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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Bill Fizzina" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rdpbill@tony11mail.cjb.net>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 11:57:51 -0300
Subject: Re: REPLY SOON
Hello,
I need your help. I got your email address from a guest book of business people all over the world. I am Bill Fazzina from Saudi Arabia and from a royal family. My father owns so many football clubs in Brazil before he was assinated by his political partners.
I want my father funds to be in your care. This $12,500,000.00 Million will be invested with your care. I need your trust as people around me can't be trusted anymore.
Please reply and help me. I will come with my bank manager to meet with you to start up the investment.
Don't be afraid because you will see me soon and we will start up this investment.
Regards,
Bill Fazzina
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Anti-fraud resources:
