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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:
- "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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: "John Douglas" <john.d.wild@refugee.com>
Reply-To: john.d.wild@live.com
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 08:31:28 -0500
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY PLEASE
Attention Please!
I am a Syrian refugee looking for your cooperation in helping me to invest
in any lucrative business in your country.I am sorry if this is not in
line with your profession but i contact you since i do not know any other
person therein.I need an experienced person to assist me set up any
profitable business investment in your country wort of (Three million five
hundred thousand United States Dollars only). I promise to offer 10% of
this fund to you or to any person who may assist me with this investment
plan in your country after our actualization of this goal and also for
his/her reliable kind assistance.
However,I got your contact information on my search in the Internet. Your
immediate reply will be highly appreciated and I shall give you more
information on this project.
Please quickly respond to this letter and send me your telephone number on
your reply to me for our oral communication too.
Regards,
John Douglas.
Refugee.
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Anti-fraud resources: