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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:
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Walters" <mrs.janetyellen6@outlook.com>
Reply-To: mr.larrywalters@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2022 11:12:43 +0100
Subject: Good news
Attention: Beneficiary
Be informed that all the fees you are supposed to pay before receiving your Inheritance compensation fund has been waived off, except the Bank Processing Fee which will only cost you $230.00 , nothing else. I give you 100% assurance to receive your fund.
Your {US$10.5 Million Dollars is available to be released to you if you can quickly get back to me for better briefing and instructions On how to receive it now and on how to send the fee, then leave the rest for me. I will take care of it and make sure your payment is released within 42 hours. Please note that the Bank Processing Fee is a must and very important, so take note of that.
Therefore you are to reconfirm your full information and also kindly choose between BITCOIN OR MONEY GRAM OR WIRE TRANSFER the method convenient for you to pay this $230 so that your funds can proceed now.
I'm waiting for your urgent response for the immediate processing now.
Best Regards,
Mr Larry Walters
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