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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR GREG PAULSEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paymentport@splash.dti.ne.jp>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2022 23:29:56 -0000
Subject: URGENT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention:
Our record shows that you have been sending money to the wrong people trying to get your funds. Please note that your money is not under their control. Your file was sent to our
office. We have already packaged your total amount of $8million dollars into an online bank. We want you to stop dealing with them because all they do is to keep coming up with
more money and they will never send your funds to you.
Your full name_____
Country of receiver______
Your Direct phone number----
Once we receive the above information we shall them go ahead to process your payment and let you know actual amount that you ought to send. Mind you that you really have to stop
dealing with them.
Payment Center
Joy Gate
PRO
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Anti-fraud resources:
