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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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.
- davidwilsonn951@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. DAVID WILSON." <zuwairausman2122@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davidwilsonn951@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2021 14:45:07 -0700
Subject: YOUR REAL $5 MILLION BANK DRAFT CHECK IS READY.
MR. DAVID WILSON.
Attention Dear Friend.
Please accept my apology for not contacting you earlier before now due to
My tight schedules. I'm very happy to informed you about my success in
Getting that funds money. under the co-operation with the NNPC
partnership here in the United States. But Presently I'm in London
with the partners for some
new projects.
And Take note this Bank Draft Check is 100% Genuine And legitimate
enough to receive.
Contact my Priest in United States of America, because I have left all
the instruction with him on your behalf. and instructed him where to
send the $5 Million Dollars to you. Without any further delay for your
compensation Payment.Remember that the $5 Million Dollars, is in bankdraft,
not cash, so I will appreciated your total cooperation and follow up
on this matter.
you are hereby advise to get in touch with him.
Here is his email address again: (davidwilsonn951@gmail.com)
as soon as possible.
Yours Faithfully.
MR. DAVID WILSON.
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Anti-fraud resources:
