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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Robert Nkomo" <adsoncorrentina@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: annnaacooopee@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:44:14 -0800
Subject: Please accept our apology
Dear Friend
I trust this message finds you to well, We are here with our mother meanwhile we got your name in our search for a foreign partner who will help us as we and our mother status as refugee cannot allow us to transfer our money. Please accept our apology if this e-mail is embarrassing as you don't know us. My mother and I we are in need of urgent assistance.
My name is Mr. Robert Nkomo from Zimbabwe. My Father a Zimbabwean (FARMER) past on here in South Africa due to Lungs complications but before my father death he entrusted the sum of USD30, 000,000.00(Thirty Million United State Dollars) to my mother care.
The money is safely kept in a security and finance company pending the establishment of a reliable person to legitimize the money for investment purpose in your country. I am currently in South Africa with my mother and little sister, but seeking for a reliable person to assist me invests this money oversea.
For now, I will not put out much information until we establish trusted relationships
THIS IS A PRIVATE TRANSACTION, and as such I will like you to keep it confidential between us.
Warm Regards
Mr. Robert Nkomo
Telephone number: +27 781965704
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