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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms Hela Cheikhrouhou" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mshlchkhrh@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:51:24 -0500
Subject: Re: Very Vital and Urgent
I'm Ms Hela Cheikhrouhou of AFDB.
Please kindly accept my apology for sending you this vital message without your consent as I got your
email via email directories.
I write to inform you that an amount of US$25 Million will be move on your name as the beneficiary.
I will need your help to receive this money and you will get 10% of the funds. You will receive this amount
through a bank wire transfer. More details will be given upon your reply. Your quick response will be highly appreciated.
I will also demand Your 100% honesty, confidentiality and most importantly your co-operation on the subject matter. Do Confirm
Your Interest by providing the Information below as I will need to furnish the information to the Egyptian Government that will
issue the payment authorization.
Be rest assured that the Information you shall provide in your return email will be use solely for the purpose mentioned above
and also that this project will be executed within the ambits of the Law.
: Your Full Name
: Company Name
: Occupation
: Complete Address
: Direct Phone
Ms Hela Cheikhrouhou
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Director
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Anti-fraud resources:
