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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "00,000.00" (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: "REV. JOHN CAPRICE"<noticeoffice34@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revjohncaprice0@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:52:11 -0700
Subject: LOAN OFFER
ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN'S
HOMES & FAMILY MINISTRIES
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I'M REV. JOHN CAPRICE THE PUBLISHER OF THE ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOMES & FAMILY MINISTRIES WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE CALLING FROM THE LORD TO
HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED AND IN FINANCIAL PROBLEM,BY GIVEN OUT LOAN TO ANY,INDIVIDUAL,COMPANYS AND SOCIETY THAT NEED MONEY TO DO BUSINESS.
THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN HAS BEEN SIGNED AND APPROVED BY THE CHURCH COMMITTEE THE SUM OF £100,000.00 WHICH YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LOAN FROM THE RATE OF $100.000
TO $600.000 YOU ARE TO RETURN THE LOAN WHICH IS GRANTED TO YOU IN 1 YEARS AGREEMENT.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED KINDLY GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR INTEREST
REV. JOHN CAPRICE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
