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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:
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- depttransfer4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR.HABIB BERNAS<pav@cpsj.cl>
Reply-To: depttransfer4@gmail.com
Date: 30 Dec 2020 13:42:42 +0100
Subject: Re: Next Of Kin Your Urgent Respond Is Needed Now.
I am Mr. Habib Bernas, a Banker and credit system programmer here
in our
bank, through the bank DTC Screen in my office which I decided to
use
this very chance to get to know you.
May I request your consent to present you as Next of Kin to our
deceased
Customer, an Oil Merchant / Contractor, whose Contract sum value
of US $
25.5 Million has Matured and awaiting administrative order for
remittance.
I will use my office to place you as the next of Kin to the
deceased
Customer late Erick Singh, and we shall share the Fund 50/50%.
There is
no risk involved; we shall execute the deal legally without any
problem.
Do get back to me with the following to enable us proceed, also I
shall
give you more details once I have your details.
1) Your Full Name ...............:
(2) Residential ............
(3) Phone and Mobile number ...................
[4] Age ............../ Occupation ................
Note: Get back to me through my E-mail address: (
depttransfer4@gmail.com )
Awaiting your Response
Have a pleasant day.
Mr. Habib Bernas.
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Anti-fraud resources:
