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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:
- "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)
- 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.
- ericsmith202022@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Eric Smith" <nilgiriidxb@gmail.com>
Reply-To: eric.smith200212@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2023 17:22:19 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS
Greetings to you
I Mr Eric Smith wrote from a hospital where there was bladder cancer,
and I also failed surgery because of the high risk of cancer. I am a
I am a 75 year old widower and I am no longer married. In addition, the
latest medical examination shows that I will not live for more than
three months. My country is (Brazil) but I live in the United States of
America.
So, I made contact with you so that you could be the
beneficiary of the money I inherited from my ex-wife. Depending on
your agreement, I will credit you with the bank management and ask
them to pay you the sum of $3.5Million Dollars into your bank account
immediately.
Also I want you to get back to me with your full details. Contact me
on this email ericsmith202022@gmail.com
1. full Name:_______
2. Address:________
3. Country:________
4. Phone Number:__
5. Occupation:______
6. Sex:____________
7. Age:____________
Yours truly
Mr Eric Smith
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Anti-fraud resources:
