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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Thomas Walker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomaswalkersx@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2021 12:28:22 -0500
Subject: Urgent Attention
Urgent Attention Required.
May I please ask with considerable urgency for your kind assistance with the following matter.
I hope you're doing great? This message may come to you as a surprise. because I'm contacting you personally in my capacity to intimate you briefly of what lies ahead for you.
urge you to be attentive to the details of the content of this project; and further consideration. I immersed a lot into this
I work as an investment accountant with an Investment Bank, I wish to place your names as the beneficiary of some unclaimed funds deposited by my Client who died of Covid-19 last year.. the deceased did not have a will, thereby leaving no next of kin behind. However, I assure you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law both in your country and here in the UK once the fund is transferred to your bank account. Therefore I solicit for your cooperation to be in collaboration with me to have this done.
The funds shall be transferred into an account that you shall provide anywhere in the world or through an alternate payment option, if suitable for your country. I will need you to provide the following information urgently to enable me start the process of the fund remittance in your favour. I'm proposing 50/50 percent for both of us.
if you are interested.
Kindly provide the following details
1) Name:
2) Address:
3) Tel:
4) Age:
5) Sex:
6) Occupation:
7) Marital Status:
8) Country:
Waiting for your reply soon.
Best Regards
Mr. Thomas Walker
walkerthomas37 (Skype)
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Anti-fraud resources:
