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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- websitersalex@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Webster S. Alexander" <OSONS@4u.com.gh>
Reply-To: websitersalex@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:51:36 -0000
Subject: Mr. Webster
--
Hello,
I am Mr. Webster S. Alexander a citizen of United Kingdom .I have in my
bank the existence of a big amount of money that belongs to a
customer,late Mr.Watson Moore he have the deposit of 8,525,000.00 pounds
is now without any claim because Mr.Watson Moore died in a deadly
earthquake in China in 2008 while on a business trip. I want your
cooperation so as to make the bank send you the fund as the beneficiary
and next of kin to late Mr.Watson Moore.
This transaction will be of a great mutual assistance to us. Send me your
reply of interest so that I will give you the details . Strictly send it
to my private email account : websitersalex@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
Please treat this business with utmost Confidentiality and send me the
Following information's bellow to enable us commence immediately:
(1) Full names......................... ............
(2) Private phone number....................
(3) Current residential address............
(4) Occupation.................... .................
(5) Age and Sex........................... ........
At the receipt of your reply, I will give you details of the
transaction. .
Best regards,
Mr. Webster S. Alexander
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Anti-fraud resources:
