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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Antonino Guterres <bmoynihan360@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info35161@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2021 03:50:59 -0800
Subject: Attention Email ID Owner
You have been approved to receive a compensation fund of $500,000.00
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only.The United Nations
are compensating the individuals across the world to alleviate poverty
as a lot of people have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
To receive your payment; You are requested to reconfirm us your
current details via our official email below. infus@finmail.com
Your Full Name:_
Your current Address:_
Your Personal Mobile Number:_
Sincerely,
Yours Faithfully,
Antonino Guterres
Executive Secretary of the U.N Economic Commission
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Anti-fraud resources:
