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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- attn.bertrandkroumah@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Bertrand Kroumah." <hirata@waco.co.jp>
Reply-To: <attn.bertrandkroumah@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2020 03:34:49 +0900
Subject: Urgent Response needed.
Good Day My Dear Friend. I am Lawyer Bertrand Kroumah. I need your
consent in the Transaction of $2.5 million United States Dollars in the
codicil and last testament of a deceased who happens to be my client.
He also bears the same last name with you, Probably maybe your Cousin or
close relative. He is also from your country. I want to present you to
his bank as his next of kin so that the bank will transfer the $2.5
Million United States Dollars to your account in your country. Your
urgent response is highly needed in this Transaction before the
Government will Take over it.
According to my research you may be his Cousin or Close Relatives. The
IMF has already started their Annual Audition and they May Confiscate
This Fund if they Notice that the Account is no longer Active That is
Why I contacted you. Even if you refuse to take this Fund, the bank will
confiscate the account as an abandoned estate and thereby take the money.
Even my racial status does not permit me or anyone around me to claim
the money.
The Bank auditions have started and the Bank May confiscate the fund if
we should waste time. However, I cannot let the labor of this reputable
client be misused. I will give further clarification on the subject once
I get your response.
Best Regards.
Bertrand Kroumah.
attn.bertrandkroumah@gmail.com
Note: If You Received This Message In Your Spam/bulk Folder, That Is
Because Of The Restrictions Implemented By Your Internet Service
Provider.
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