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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:
- "million united states 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.
- mrsjillbiden61@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Jill Biden" <akantulvidas@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsjillbiden61@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 04:39:47 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION
--
ATTENTION DEAREST!
I am Mrs. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States and I am writing
to inform you of your bank check draft brought by the United Embassy
of the United States Department of Treasury to the White House
Washington DC has been mandated for delivery at your designated
address as soon as you answer me with the information below:
Home Address:...â¦â¦
Phone number:...â¦â¦
City/Address:...â¦â¦
Your inheritance and compensation check is worth $ 10.5million United
States Dollars. We are American patriotism that wants to defend this
country against our foreign adversaries.
Mrs. Jill Biden, Contact Me Through This Email Address
(mrsjillbiden61@gmail.com)
THE WHITE HOUSE {OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES}
1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW WASHINGTON DC 20500 USA
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Anti-fraud resources: