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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 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)
- ",000,000" (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.
- 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.
- jezu.damian1960@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Jerry Koffi <donationaward101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jezu.damian1960@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2021 23:56:55 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend
I am glad to inform you that I have successfully concluded the
transaction, the money transferred to Dubai UAE. It was transferred
through the assistant of your country man Mr. Howard Ferraro who is a
Dubai base business man. Currently I am in London with him, my wife
and children.In appreciate of your assistance I have mapped out as a
compensation and wrote on your favor a Draft worth of
US$5,000,000.00.(Five Million United States Dollars Only) I left the
Draft with my attorney Sir. Damain.Jezu on my departure to Dubai. I
would like you therefore, to contact him on the below info so that he
can mail it to you.
attorney: Sir Damain Jezu
Email: jezu.damian1960@gmail.com
Regards,
Jerry Koffi
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Anti-fraud resources: