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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:
- "hundred thousand 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "e_dad00@yahoo.com.ph" <lasilva@fcfrp.usp.br>
Reply-To: E-DAD <e_dad00@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 04:05:49 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: HELLO Pls REPLY
HELLO Pls REPLY
With warm heart I offer my friendship and greetings.
I am from Cote D'Ivoire the largest Cocoa producing nation in Africa. The source through which I got your contact gave me the confidence to contact your kind assistance to help us to transfer and secure the 12.5M (Twelve Million, Five Hundred thousand US Dollars) I inherited from my late father for investment in your country. My late father was a wealthy Agricultural Business man of Cocoa & Gold, before his tragic death, he handed me the deposit documents because our mother died many years ago.
I want to invest this money in your peaceful country and with your experience I think you are in good position to assist and to come over to your country with my only younger sister to further our education after the transfer of the money to you as our guardian.
I am just 21 years undergraduate and don't know what to do because I have suffered lots set backs as a result of the political crisis of my country and the death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.
Your suggestions and ideas will be appreciated & willing to offer 20% of the money for your help. I hope to hear from you to give you more info about myself and detail process.
Thanks and God bless, I'm looking forward to hear from you.
Best regards,
E. Dad.
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Anti-fraud resources:
