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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 american 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- wsmith1145@rambler.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.WALTER SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wsmith1145@rambler.ru>
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2021 01:37:06 -0700
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY!!!
Hello My Friend.
How are you doing today? I am very sorry to contact you in this manner because we have not seen each other before but please do not look at me like a stranger to you.
I need your urgent assistance and trust to stand as the next of kin to my late client who died and left behind the inheritance of the 10.5 Million American Dollars and I want this to be transferred to you for an Investment purpose because the bank wrote me an email and ask me to present the next of kin within 15 working days or they will confiscate the account. But because I am still working here in Syria for 2 years contract.
I have made several inquiries to the embassy to locate any members of my client extended relatives. After several unsuccessful attempts, so I decided to contact you for assistance.
This transaction is 100% Legitimate and Genuine, No risk involved.
Kindly get back to me on my email address wsmith1145@rambler.ru if you are interested in this proposal and also send me your direct cell phone number too for easier communication.
Best regards,
Dr. Walter Smith.
E-mail: wsmith1145@rambler.ru
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Anti-fraud resources:
