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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- thomasonwilcox@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: THOMASON WILCOX <thomasonwilcox343@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2020 17:29:18 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL FROM MR.THOMASON WILCOX
Dear Sir =
I will like to discuss this business with you and it has nothing to do wit=
h someone in my country believe me is only you that is outside south Africa=
can handle this deal. i only got your contact details from when I was sear=
ching for a friend Information On-line Service on my personal programmed se=
arch on the internet for an individual to assist with sincerely & confident=
ial which your information & profiles were very satisfactory; so I decided =
to contact you immediately. It is my great pleasure to write you this lette=
r and this email is my private email as we need to keep this transaction as=
a confidential. (thomasonwilcox@yahoo.com} =
Within the bank where I work as an account officer; I want to tell you tha=
t I work with Absa bank of South Africa. And here in our bank I discovered =
that a customer deposited the sum of USD6 Million in our bank On my finding=
i discovered that he passed away on the covid-19 since then none of his re=
lative came for the funds claim and I don't think anyone knows about this f=
und. I am his account officer. =
So I am writing to you as I will want you to stand as his next of kin so t=
hat the funds will be released to you. It is pure deal transaction between =
me and you. I am seeking your assistance to front as the next of kin to the=
unclaimed deceased funds; an application for claim to reflect payment and =
approvals will be secured on behalf of your name as I have a good lawyer fr=
iend who will help us proceed with everything to my bank making an applicat=
ion with your name to my bank as you been the next of kin and for the relea=
se of the funds to you in any of your account in overseas and not here in m=
y country south Africa.
but the funds need to be transferred out of south Africa. I have to propo=
se that should you be willing to assist me in this transaction your share a=
s compensation will be (30%) I will then get (65%) with the lawyer who will=
be assisting us and the balance of (5%) for taxation and miscellaneous exp=
enses incurred during the transfer process. The business is completely safe=
and secure; provided you treat it with Utmost confidentiality. As a transf=
er of powers of attorney will be secured in favor of your name through my l=
awyer friend and for my bank to release the funds on your name as the next =
of kin. .. =
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint =
me. Your urgent response needed. Please kindly contact me back on my privat=
e email: thomasonwilcox@yahoo.com =
Thanks Mr. thomason wilcox=20
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