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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: "Mrs Catherine Pritchard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <catherine@whitedesign.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:19:43 -0400
Subject: From beloved one
Dear beloved one,
I am Catherine Pritchard from England. I am deaf and have cancer of the breast I lost my husband 12yrs ago without a child of mine. I had to sell all my properties left by my husband because the doctors say i have less than 2months to live.
I have deposited the funds of $5million USD which i sold from my properties and deposit into a Bank. I want you to help me use the funds to help the charity deaf and the motherless babies home before i die. If you are a good and honest Christian i shall give you the contact of the Bank and also the Deposit Certificate so as to claim my funds before my death.
Expecting your urgent response and may God bless you as you carry out my wish.
Please email me back immediately.
Yours Sister.
Mrs Catherine Pritchard
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Anti-fraud resources:
