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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:
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- jamesmalcolm12@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr James Malcolm" <info@cbn.com>
Reply-To: mrjamesmalcolm7@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:01:57 +0200
Subject: --PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL, NO UPFRONT PAYMENT INVESTMENT--
ATTENTION:
I am James Malcolm, a member of the Audit Committee on contracts of ExxonMobil Corporation (UK).
I need a silent foreign partner in the United States who I can be trusted to receive an outstanding fund for lucrative investment and charity work in the United States.
I will give you details of this project as you respond promptly to this proposal. The funds shall be moved to your nominated account from our operating bank here in United Kingdom.
The fund is valued at Thirty Million U.S Dollars and you will not be obliged to be responsible for the expenses in this transaction as I and my committee have made adequate arrangement for a credible and reliable US Investor to provide us with all the funding / finance we need to settle all expenses and costs associated with the release of the funds to your nominated account.
E MAIL me at: jamesmalcolm12@hotmail.com
Regards,
Mr James Malcolm
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Anti-fraud resources:
