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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (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)
- 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.
- dr.mackjohn@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mack John" <norely@johnmack.org>
Reply-To: "Dr. Mack John" <dr.mackjohn@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 15:41:15 +0000
Subject: Important Message - Claim your compensation funds
Dear Sir/Madam,
This mail may come to you as a surprise, but I have good news for you.
I was contacted by my late client (Mrs. Amelia Kennedy) who gave me your email address before her passing. She instructed that a donation sum of USD $95 million dollars should be prepared in your name for the sole aim of setting up a charity organisation in your home country, and part of the fund for yourself and family. I am contacting you with trust that this mail will not be exposed to third parties knowing fully well that this is a life-changing opportunity for you and your family.
Kindly get back to me for directives on how to get the fund released to you by the security company where the fund is deposited.
Reply this mail via dr.mackjohn@hotmail.com and also provide your WhatsApp phone number if you have any for ease of communication.
Thank you.
Dr. Mack John
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Anti-fraud resources:
