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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 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.
- mrnancheng@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Nan Cheng" <mrnanchenga@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrnancheng@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2021 10:16:32 +0200
Subject: Would you like to know more
Mr. Nan Cheng
Singapore Refining Company Pte Ltd (SRC).
Attn: Sir/Madam,
Your reputable profile motivated me to contact you for a possible
partnership in an operation of lifting of crude petroleum products and sale
license for which the monthly commission will raise up to 14 million
dollars monthly.
Would you like to know more or are you interested in doing business with me?
Please kindly get back to me as soon as possible, do send your reply to my
direct mailbox (mrnancheng@hotmail.com)
Cordially,
Mr. Nan Cheng
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Anti-fraud resources:
