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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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.
- dr.edward181@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Martins Edward" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.edward181@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 May 2022 13:32:42 -0700
Subject: kindly read the email urgent
Dear Friend
I am interested in establishing and operating a very viable business as a means of investment abroad. I do not know too well how this is done in your country, So I will need you to help me in this regard. My preference is any good profit yielding business and I would appreciate any viable ideas you could come up with. I will also need you to help me look for properties like homes and lands for sale as I am proposing to invest the sum of ($55,000,000 USD) Million Dollars for this. I do not know if you can and will be of help to me.
For a brief on my personality; My name is DR.Martins Edward, a Moroccan based in London. I am a retired Business man formally into private Shipping Business. I am 64 years of age, I dropped my Shipping business because it wasn't producing profitable income. I have had so many problems with the British Authority just because I'm a foreigner I believe.
I am currently ill with cancer My doctor told me that I might not live for more than 4 years from now due to my cancer illness. I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons. I want you to utilize my investment when received to establish business investments that will create job opportunities for the jobless population and less privileged. I will give you more details only If you are honest and ready to handle this project.
My need for this business proposition and to acquire these is very urgent. Please I expect your good and prompt reply so that we can proceed swiftly. I will need your phone numbers for easier communication with you if I am unable to access my emails.
You can always email me at ( dr.edward181@gmail.com ) Waiting your swift response
Best Regards,
DR.Martins Edward
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Anti-fraud resources:
