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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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 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.
- ayong08@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ali Yong?" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ayong08@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:09:32 +0800
Subject: From Ali Yong!!
I am Ali Yong, Attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, that shares
the same last name as yours, who died as the result of a heart-related
condition in March 12th 2005. His heart condition was due to the death
of all the members of his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th
December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by
my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this deposit valued at Nineteen million dollars
(US$19million dollars) is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to
contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.
Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.
I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as
possible via my private EMAIL:(ayong08@sify.com) and treat
with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick
reply.
Best regards,
ayong08@sify.com (+60-166-307-074)
Ali Yong
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Anti-fraud resources:
