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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Brown"<project.financing.247@gmail.com>
Reply-To: krugermgt@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:40:40 -0700
Subject: Kind Attention - Business proposal
Dear Sir/Madam I am Mr. Browm, I work as a procurement assistant. I got you=
r contact details during my search for a reliable and neutral company or in=
dividual to partner with in the area of investment. I need your assistance =
to manage an investment fund in a profitable business in your region with g=
ood Annual Return on Investment (AROI). I know that this mail might come to=
you as a surprise because we neither know each other nor have ever met but=
please accept it with an open and positive mind. Details of the investment=
and funding will be furnished to you when I receive your response which wi=
ll also facilitate a face to face meeting with the investors. Yours Sincere=
ly, Mr. Brown=20
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Anti-fraud resources:
