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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (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.
- 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.
- chris.lucas190@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Fredric Ross." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chris.lucas190@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2022 23:15:38 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary Your Payment Update.
Dear Beneficiary,
We want to notify you that a world-wide draw was carefully carried out this week through an electronic random selection of e-mail addresses from the internet which led to your selection as one of the lucky beneficiaries of this year's United Nations Compensation Lottery Program which is aimed at contributing financially to people's welfare and you are expected to help people around you financially as soon as you receive this money which is mainly the purpose of this lottery program since we cannot reach everyone.
The total amount due for collection by you is $2,500,000,00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) which is ready to be release and pay to you as soon as you contact our representative in charge of payment for claim in the name of Mr.Chris Lucas.
You are hereby advised to contact our representative in charge of disbursement for the United Nations Compensation Lottery Program with the below information via his personal email address.
Contact Person: Mr.Chris Lucas
E-mail: chris.lucas190@gmail.com
(1) Your Full Names:
(2) Home Address:
(3) City/Country:
(4) Phone No:
(5) Gender:
Thanks,
Mr.Fredric Ross
(Director United Nations Compensation Lottery Program)
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Anti-fraud resources: