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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ALEX" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexputilov555@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:23:54 +0100
Subject: urgent reply needed
Attn.
Good day sir.I am writing you this mail to seek your consent with my
proposal for us to work together.
Firstly my name is Mr. Alex Putilov, the CEO of Alex Putilov Resources
LTD. I am from Ukraine although now held captive in Russia. I am into
oil and Gas business that had made me travel various countries around
and I am 75 years old now.
Everything I had and worked for including mu family was lot to the
Russia - Ukraine war, so I want to move my only remaining funds as I
can not stand the hard international sanctions that this country is
facing owning Russia - Ukraine war as a result of Putin's
stubbornness.I have about $10.000.000 million dollars in a bank Abroad
and I needed a trusted friend or partner to link up with for
re-investment.
Please if you can be sincere enough I will give you the contact of my
bank so that the documents will be changed in your name and you'll be
in custody of the funds untill I release alive here for a proper
reinvestment plan of this funds which will be under your supervision
in your country.
I want you to serve as my investment manager. Please reply me urgent
If you can handle this asap .
I look forward to hear from you soonest.
Thanks
Mr. Alex Putilov
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Anti-fraud resources: