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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.
- 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.
- sophiayoung550@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <admin@rossen-shop.ch>
Reply-To: sophiayoung550@aol.com
Date: 30 Jun 2021 20:44:39 -0500
Subject: My Cousin, Sophia came across your profile as she was actually standing behind me, she has been all over me about getting in touch with you.
Hi Handsome,
I am online today and was about to close my account since I
already got a life partner here on facebook that was when my
Cousine Sophia, came across your profile as she was actually
viewing while passing behind me, she has been all over me about
getting in touch with you. she said you seems like a man she will
like to know better. she lives in the same area as you. she was
only here for a job inspection. You don't need to write back here
as I will be deactivating my account on this site soon. This is
his direct email: sophiayoung550@aol.com
I hope you get in touch with her and I promise you won't regret
anything. I believe you will thank me later for this.
Warmest regards and season's greetings to you
Cynthia Stout.
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Anti-fraud resources:
