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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 us 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: Special Agent <elizabethobianuju012@gmail.com>
Reply-To: specialagent635@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2023 21:26:30 +0100
Subject: SPECIAL AGENT
--
I want to confirm from you the reason why you decided to abandon your
outstanding fund, the sum of US$2.5 Million US dollars? In our efforts
to foster global monetary cooperation secures financial stability and
facilitates individual company economic growth.The FBI through our
international monitoring network has recovered your UNPAID FUND sum of
the $2.5Million US dollars that has been on hold. As a Federal
Commission we are here to protect your interest and the interest of
all citizens of the United States, your funds are intact and will get
to you without any problem.
Yours faithfully,
FBI Special Agent Janeen DiGuiseppi
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Anti-fraud resources:
