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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: FEDEX <basirabellobkr@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrdavidgonzalez11@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:36:10 +0100
Subject: FEDEX
--
My name is Mr David Gonzalez from FedEx courier service New York
Funds was deposited to this office this morning, by the Federal
Reserve bank New York, the funds total amount is $3.7million
We have been instructed to deliver it to any address you may provide
The delivery will take place today so what is required from you is an
address where you want us
to deliver,
We are told by the federal reserve bank authorities that the funds is
a compensation fund from the United States government
They stated that your email address has been in several fraudulent
activities since 2015 so
the $3.7million that you are receiving is a compensation fund from the
united states government to the victims
Reply with your home or office address immediately you receive this
email because we are ready to deliver, I am looking forward to seeing
your message, Once again my name is David Gonzalez I’m in charge of
your delivery.
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Anti-fraud resources:
