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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:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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.
- usbankusbankoffic@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: bank <usbankoffic86@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usbankusbankoffic@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:07:18 +0100
Subject: us bank
washinton dc NO.5786
white dallars street 34321
bank address] usbankusbankoffic@gmail.com
my current whatsapp] +13192095321
YOUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN RELEASED;
We would like to inform you that the US government has issued an order
to transfer the amount of ($ 5 million US dollars) to you as your name
was among the fraud victims who have lost so much money to African and
European scammers which you also have a pending funds of $3 million
dollars that is supposed to be transferred to you since the beginning
of these year 2022 which we have decided to contact you today on how
we can make the transaction to you as soon as possible and We advise
you to interrupt any further communication with you and anyone, you
will not be harmed.
We are waiting for your immediate reply with your details so that this
bank can immediately proceed with the transfer or delivery of your
money and serve you better.
FULL NAME.........................
COUNTRY/HOME ADDRESS .................
WHATSAPP NUMBER ................
TELEPHONE FAX..................
YOUR IDENTITY CARD.............
OCCUPATION.............
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Anti-fraud resources:
