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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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Douglas Mohamed <charlotte.elliot444@gmail.com>
Reply-To: infilei93@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2021 23:45:06 -0900
Subject: Attention Dear Email ID owner
YOUR ATM MASTER Credit Card Loaded with £15,000.000.00 GBP Is Ready
Am Mr Douglas Mohamed ,the diplomatic agent and i was sent from the
Bank OF ENGLAND (BOE) United Kingdom to delivered your ATM MASTER
CREDIT CARD that value sum of £15 millions Pounds to your
destination home address and right now am at the City of Heathrow
Airport UK England and i want you to send an email to me now once
you received this email and give me all about your information to
avoid wrong delivering such as
Your Name....
Your male/female....
Your Address.....
Your Telephone Number....
your country and state...
your email address......
Best regards
Mr Douglas Mohamed
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Anti-fraud resources:
