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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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bradley Atkinson" <bradleyatkin0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bradleyatkin088@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2023 02:07:18 -0700
Subject: (Foreign Investment)
Hello,
Please pardon my approach if this mail inconveniences you; I actually got your e-mail contact through my online exploration for proficient business individuals and l decided to contact you directly about this business funding project.
I am contacting you in goodwill about a business investment that will be of mutual benefit to us. I have a potential investor with sufficient capital and can genuinely fund any lucrative business up to Five Hundred Million United States Dollars (foreign investment), appropriate funds will be approved and transferred to your nominated active bank account after assessment of your capability, business/project and your acceptance of the funding terms.
Contact me if you are interested and can be trusted for further briefing and details.
I look forward to receiving your response with more details.
Kind regards.
Bradley Atkinson
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Anti-fraud resources:
