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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mariamanthony@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mariam Favor Anthony" <mariamfavoranthony@mariamanthony.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Mariam Favor Anthony" <mariamanthony@aol.com>,
mariamanthony@aol.com
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2021 14:21:43 +0100
Subject: GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR LIFE 2021
Dear Friend
My name is Mrs. Mariam Favor Anthony the Human Resources Manager with the United Nations.
I came across your profile which impressed me and i decided to contact you for a business / investment of a total amount of US$965,502,500.00 (Nine Hundred and Sixty Five Million Five Hundred and Two Thousand and five hundred United States Dollars) which i will like to be well invested in your Country.
You will not spend any money of your own in this business as I will secure every document for a smooth completion of this investment in your name without any problem by the global financial monetary agencies ok.
Your earlier response is required so that I can detail more on this business.
Kindly Contact me on my secondary Email: mariamanthony@aol.com
Regards
Mrs. Mariam Favor Anthony
Human Resources Manager with the United Nations.
GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR LIFE
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Anti-fraud resources:
