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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:
- "money gram" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.George Morgan" <officefiles007799@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paymentofficemoneygram04@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:40:33 +0100
Subject: IMPORTANT REMINDER
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Departments: Of Money Gram Payment office
Ref: Payment Release Update
Amount Valued: US $4,500,000.00.
Payment allocation security code (A84PRFGN2019)
Attention,,
This is to bring to your notice that with effect from next month,
your winning price of {$4.500.000.00} Four million Five hundred united state
dollars which was approved by IMF in this office in your name as the
beneficiary during our 2020 file revision will be confiscated
This fund was deposited and has you as apparent heir to it. You are
therefore by this notice required to provide this office with your
personal information such as.
Your Full Name.......
Your Address.........
Country..............
Your Phone Number .......
A copy of Your ID........
To enable us process and release the said fund to you,
or you let us know your preferable choice of receiving your fund.
We shall anticipate your quick response.
Regards Mr.George Morgan
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Anti-fraud resources:
