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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:
- 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:
- "million us 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Hall Mike <magdalenbristow@eircom.net>
Reply-To: Hall Mike <mendybryson@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2020 21:49:11 +0100 (IST)
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM
--
Attention
I (Mr. Richard Wahl) from Lubbock Texas construction worker, won a Jackpot of
$533 Million US DOLLARS fortune in Mega Millions Jackpot Lottery in April 17, 2017.
After seeking financial advice from my legal counsel with my pastor who advised to
donate 25% of our lottery winnings to people as a tithe and thanksgiving. I have now
decided to fulfill the promise I made to donate the sum of $12.5millon United States Dollars)
each to 10 unknown lucky people as part of
my charity project to improve the lives of these lucky individuals from around the
world.
Fortunately, if you receive this automated email transmission which was
electronically selected as beneficiary of this giveaway then you are one of the
7lucky recipients to receive $12.5 USD United States
Dollars) Kindly Responed back with your full details for more information
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Anti-fraud resources:
