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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- tracywilliams200@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: tracywilliams20@citromail.hu
Reply-To: tracywilliams200@citromail.hu
Date: 1 Feb 2022 06:01:45 -0800
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR
It was a great pleasure contacting you with this media. Let me first introduce myself I am Mrs. Tracy Williams I work with Hatari Securities services Nairobi Kenya
I have an important business proposal that will benefit both of us but it must be top secret. Please keep it highly confidential.
My aim of contacting you is because I want us to work together as a team. I need an honest and trustworthy person that can handle it without any discrepancy. During our annual routine auditing I discovered a dormant file of a Peru businessman who died 3 Years ago.
It has two Trunk Boxes containing gold. This Consignment is supposed to be delivered in your country before his death. I want you to present yourself as the person who is supposed to receive the Consignment. I will use our legal department to change the entire delivering document in your name as a new beneficiary and will be delivered directly to your country. We share it 50/50.
Honesty, trust and good cooperation is absolutely important. If you are willing to work with me we will start the process immediately. Kindly contact me with my private email tracywilliams200@citromail.hu
Regards
Mrs. Tracy Williams.
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