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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.
- 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.
- edwincastrodonations@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Edwin Castro Donation <jungilwoo563@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwincastrodonations@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 May 2024 03:25:01 -0700
Subject: DONATION
Congratulations, you are one of our selected beneficiaries.
You have received this message on behalf of Edwin Castro; I am
the winner of the Powerball jackpot of 2.04 billion U.S. dollar. I am the
biggest Powerball jackpot winner in the History of the United States. I won
this lottery on the 7th. of November 2022.
I would like to inform you that Google in collaboration with Microsoft
sent your “email address†upon my request to receive a donation of $2.5
million. I'm giving you $2.5 million to do charity
and help poor people in your community so that we can make this world a
better place for everyone
Please visit the website below for more information,
So that you don't be skeptical about this $2.5 million donation.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/14/us/powerball-winner-named/index.html
NOTE: You can search for “Edwin Castro,†the winner
of the record-breaking Powerball jackpot of 2.04 billion
US Dollar in November in California on November 7th, 2022
Please reply to: (edwincastrodonations@gmail.com) with the
information below so that we can send your details to the bank
to issue you a universal ATM card worth 2.5 million US dollars.
YOUR COMPLETE NAME:
PHONE NUMBER:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
NATIONAL:
GENDER:
MARITAL STATUS:
JOBS:
Greetings,
Edwin Castro Foundation
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Edwin Castro jackpot winner
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Anti-fraud resources:
