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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: WILLIAMS BRUCE <daochaiamporn@gmail.com>
Reply-To: williamsbruce031@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:28:15 -0700
Subject: I Need Your Help
My Dear Beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you and your family. I am Mr. Williams Bruce A widower
from the United States of America.
I am a 75 years old man, my late wife was a Managing Director with the
Apex Construction Company here in the USA before her Sudden Death due
to breast cancer.
But before her death, she Deposited the Sum of¨$15 Million US dollars
with a Bank in USA, I am suffering from pancreatic
cancer, My condition is really bad and it is quite obvious that my
life is in danger according to my doctor's report and I have no Child
who is going to take care of this Huge amount of Money.
I am willing to donate the sum of $15 Million US dollars for you to
help the widows and the less privileged in the rural and urban areas
also to carry out charitable works in your Country and around the
World on my Behalf.
Please reply to me for more details on how you can receive the money.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ.
Mr. Williams Bruce
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Anti-fraud resources:
