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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- josephdiara2018@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: joseph diara <joseph.diara152@gmail.com>
Reply-To: josephdiara2018@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2022 17:33:34 +0100
Subject: Fund Transaction
Dear Sir,
I am the foreign contracts director in the Nigerian Federal Ministry
Of Petroleum and Natural resources.(FMPNR)
We have a foreign contract payment fund in my ministry which has
remained unclaimed for than five years now because the relevant legal
documents to claim it legally was missing hence the transfer of the
fund was suspended indefinitely by the federal government pending when
all necessary legal documents covering the fund are provided by
beneficiary of the fund.
Therefore,If you are interested to work with me on this project then i
want you to come forward and claim this fund as as the true
beneficiary and we shall share the fund accordingly.
With my position and your cooperation/understanding all the legal
documents backing the fund in your name/address as the true
beneficiary shall be legally obtained and documented for transfer and
the transfer of the fund shall take place immediately to your bank
account without any trace.
Please,note that there is no risk involved as long as you are able to
keep everything to yourself only and maintain absolute confidentiality
now and after you have received the fund.
Best Regards,
Eng.Joseph Diara
Personal email: josephdiara2018@gmail.com
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