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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 united states 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)
- 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.
- mrshelencook44@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Helen CooK" <test@central.mercfresh.com>
Reply-To: mrshelencook44@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:50:38 -0800
Subject: CAN YOU BE TRUSTED FOR THIS CHARITY WORK.55.254
Dear Beloved
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I'm sorry for this sudden mail.My name is Mrs. Helen Cook. I was
recently diagnosed with this heartless pandemic virus called COVID 19
in a private hospital in UK, and do to my age and my other health
conditions the doctors has already told me that my survival rate maybe
slim due to my health conditions and my old age. I have some funds I
inherited from my late loving husband Mr Andrew Cook, the sum of (four
million united States Dollars) which he deposited in BANK Here. and I
need a very honest and sincere person that can use this funds for
God's work and a significant amount out of the total funds will be for
your compensation and administrative charges for doing this work of
God. I decided to contact you.
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If you can be trusted to handle this charity project,
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send your details to my private email address: ( mrshelencook44@gmail.com )
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Your full name:................
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Occupation:.....................
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Contact Number:.............
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Please stay safe at this difficult time all over the world.
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Your Sister In The Lord.
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Mrs. Helen CooK
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Anti-fraud resources:
