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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- upsshipping563@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Bambee Jo MehrmanJeff Bezos <leniarose96@gmail.com>
Reply-To: upsshipping563@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2023 08:01:33 +0100
Subject: Attention Email Owner,
Attention Email Owner!
From the founder and executive chairman of Amazon (Jeff Bezos), it's on this
note that I'm informing the world of my intention to give out my Fortune to
families around the world. Your email was randomly selected to be a part of
the families who will be beneficiaries of this charity project.
Click on the link below for more
information:https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/11/14/jeff-bezos-says-he-plans-to-give-away-most-of-his-124-billion-fortune.html
Here is a UPS tracking number to confirm your donation
type www.ups.com then track your package with this UPS tracking number
1z73333A0440600478 you will receive a cashier check of $10,000,000.00
USD from UPS
Contact UPS Agent with the email address below if you are interested
in receiving these donations. Email: (upsshipping563@gmail.com)
My Best Regards.
Bambee Jo MehrmanJeff Bezos Representatives for Charity
Distribution
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Anti-fraud resources:
