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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ophelia Wyatt <wyattophelia850@gmail.com>
Reply-To: opheliawyat@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2023 06:15:40 -0700
Subject:
Good day
I seize this opportunity to extend my unalloyed compliments of the new
season to you and your family, hoping that this year brings more joy,
happiness and prosperity into your household.
My name is Mrs. Ophelia wyatt, I am 75 years old and was diagnosed with
cancer approximately four years ago, immediately after the death of my
husband.
I have been touched to donate from what I have inherited from my late
husband for the good work rather than allow his relatives to lavish my
husband's hard-earned fund.
As I lay on my sick bed, I want you to help me in carrying out my last
wishes on earth which will also be very profitable to you.
I want to WILL a total sum of *$32M* to you which I want you to distribute
part of it to any charity home for me and the rest for yourself and your
family. I will inform you on how to share it all.
Please for further information contact me ASAP.
Regards
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Anti-fraud resources:
