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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Gen.Larry Smith" <inf.moneyreleasedorder@gmail.com>
Reply-To: d.department@aol.com
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:03:12 -0700
Subject: I am contacting you for the second time
--
Hello
I am contacting you for the second time.
I got your email address from the Americans online Data-Base
My name is General Larry Smith, commanding the 81 battalions of the
United States military base in Syria's Homs Governorate located 24 km
west of the al-Tanf border crossing
along the Iraq–Syria border and near the Jordan–Syria border.
During an attack operation we carried out last a few months ago where
we made a historic record by debunking the heaviest Terrorists Camp
between Syria/North Turkey Border and
we recovered heavy and sophisticated weapons from the bandits and a
huge amount of money. We got this money shared between the officers
who were present during that operation.
And I have resolved to move this money to a safe place, and this is
why I am contacting you today. Please, this is the only means of
communication I have here.
I hope I can trust you. and I am willing to offer you 35% of the total
money which is $19 million USD if you are willing to do the deal with
me and I also want you to know that
this is very legit.
And for confidentiality purposes, all our communications will be
strictly through email.
Please email me on my regular and private email address:
And I will advise you further on how you can receive this fund.
I will wait for your response.
Best Regards,
Gen. Larry Smith
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Anti-fraud resources:
