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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:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
- melvincliff05@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " Melvin Cliff" <info@sender.com>
Reply-To: melvincliff05@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2021 05:26:37 -0800
Subject: READ CAREFULLY
Attn,
We just received your representative at our office.
Mrs. Laurie Eisen just applied as your representative and she has already submitted a withdrawal request on your behalf for the
immediate transfer of your $1.5m in to his account.
She said you were very busy and cant make it but you instructed her to act on your behalf. I was initially discussing with you
about using the Bank transfer option but since you have chosen Mrs. Laurie Eisen to represent you,then i will ensure it is done.
she came with the required fee for all necessary documents.
kindly confirm if you have given mrs. laurie eisen fully authorized approval before we commence with the transfer, The IC3
Internet Crimes Complaints Center are running background check on her file before such fund would be issued to her .
You are hereby advised NOT to remit further payment to any institutions with respect to your transaction as your fund will be
transferred to you directly from our source. I hope this is clear. Any action contrary to this instruction is at your own risk.
Respond to Melvin Cliff on this e-mail (melvincliff05@gmail.com) with immediate effect and we shall give you further details
on how your fund will be released.
Regards.
Melvin Cliff.
IC3 Internet Crimes Complaints Center
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Anti-fraud resources:
