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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- hansmith.67post@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Hans Smith <noreply@supersmileindia.com>
Reply-To: hansmithpost@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2020 14:27:50 +0530
Subject: VERY URGENT BUSINESS OFFER
Sir,
Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via
E-mail.
I am Mr Hans Smith. My associates and I have been working in tandem to
find a reliable and trustworthy investment manager that will invest the
sum of US$250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred And Fifty Million Dollars) for our
client from Angola.
We have no particular preference to any area of investment. We are only
interested in a foreign investment manager that will invest the funds in
profitable and viable investment projects.I saw your profile and We want
to have a Profitable Joint Venture with you.Your sincerity is highly
needed. Contact me for more details.
REPLY TO: hansmith.67post@gmail.com
Thanks
Mr Hans Smith.
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Anti-fraud resources:
