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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- larry.owens929@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Larry Owens <lars090687@gmail.com>
Reply-To: larry.owens929@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2020 16:44:30 +0100
Subject: Dear beneficiary,
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Dear beneficiary,
The Cotonou branch of the UBA bank is mandated to compensate you as a
victim of scam with the sum of $2.5 million through an ATM visa card.
We believe you re not aware of a compensation right of benefit to
which you were entitled. No other transactions approved in your favor,
said Ecowas. reply to the email address: (larry.owens929@gmail.com)
for more details on shipping your atm visa card. Tel:+22961167555
Regards
Mr. Larry Owens
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Anti-fraud resources:
