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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 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.
- benchuma@mail.com (Mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ben Chuma" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:01:48 +0100
Subject: From Mr. Ben Chuma
My Dear,
There's a PTC (Payment Transaction Case) which is open in a fund management company because the owner is now deceased and there's no clear next of kin to inherit the PTC involving $15.3m.
As a financial consultant working in the fund management company, I propose that we work together to clear the PTC funds.
This is totally 100% risk-free and would be mutually beneficial.
That's all the detail I can divulge for now until I receive your positive reply and I can expatiate further.
Do please reply to: benchuma@mail.com
Kind regards,
Mr. Ben Chuma
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Anti-fraud resources: