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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:
- "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. )
- 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.
- mrwalexanderholmes22@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr W. Alexander Holmes" <irscomissionermrchrlesrettig@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrwalexanderholmes22@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2022 13:30:12 +0100
Subject: Dear Email Owner/Beneficiar
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YOUR MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP ANY MONEY GRAM LOCATION.
The first payment of your compensation fund has been sent today via
money gram for you to pick up your payment of $5000.00. We will
continue sending your money until your total amount of $2.8 million is
completed. So rush to any money gram office now to pick up your first
payment of $5000.00 now, after that you can get back to me for your
second transfer, I am waiting to hear from you as soon as you pick up
your first payment, you've to call our head office for your second
transfer through this number +1(469) 745-8033
Here is the information to pick up your first payment track it now
with the last name and go and pick up your first payment of $5000.00
Sender's name:MR W. Alexander Holmes Holmes
Amount Sent:::::: $5,000
Reference::::::::::5208-2081
Text Question::::::who
Text Answer::::::::GOD
Yours respectfully,
Mr. W. Alexander Holmes Holmes
From Money Gram Office
Once again be advice to reconfirm your information such as to complete the
transfer:
RECEIVER NAME:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
CITY:
TELEPHONE NO.:
OCCUPATION:
A COPY OF YOUR ID CARD:
Contact with below information to forward you the complete information to
start receiving your fund now, Further more you advised to call us as
the instruction was passed that
within 2hours without hearing from you. Count your payment cancelled.
Number to call is below listed Manager Director Office
My personal email address is mrwalexanderholmes22@gmail.com
Am waiting for your response once you pick up your first
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Anti-fraud resources:
