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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- k1mmo@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "R C SENGG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bosrkioffice@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:42:27 +0200
Subject: Re: (PSALM 24)
My Dear Friend,
I am writing this mail to you with serious tears in my eyes and great
sorrow in my heart, I decided to contact you due to the urgency of my
situation.
My name is Rich Central SENG, retired businessman on sick bed. I will be
81 years on the 7th of Dec 2023 hoping to celebrate my birthday alive
before joining my ancestors. I have suffered series of illness and
life is indeed nothing for aged & sick men. Can you devote your time
and be totally committed and devoted to run multi-million Dollars humanitarian
charity project sponsored totally by me; with an incentive/compensation
accrual to you for your time and effort and at no cost to you. I want you to
take 30% of the total money for your personal and family use While 70%
of the money will go to building orphanages.
I grew up as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member I
made this decision knowing that I might Move on to the Great Beyond
anytime and the Bankers will STEAL this Money. If interested, Please
kindly contact me with Contact information.
I count on your goodwill and especially on the proper use of these funds.
1.)Full Name: 2.)Current Address: 3.)Country: 4.)Age: 5.)Gender:
6.)Occupation: 7.)Phone Number:
Waiting for your urgent response.(k1mmo@mail.com) I am
hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours Sincerely,
Fondly,
Ricky
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Anti-fraud resources:
