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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George McConnell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <GeorgeMcConnell001@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:11:38 -0800
Subject: Greetings Beneficiary.
ATTENTION: Beneficiary.
I am writing to inform you that your compensation/winning payment was approved today by the Board and Directors of the United Nation Committee on Rewards and Compensation.
You are hereby required to reconfirm your following details as to enable the financial department to release your funds to you without any delay.
Thus, reconfirm the following:
1. Your full name:
2. Your residential address:
3. Your direct phone number:
4. Your age:
We look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you.
Mr. George McConnell.
Director of Payment,
UN Foreign Office.
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Anti-fraud resources:
