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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:
- "million 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Yasir Ali ( Pakistan)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wl.x@webdunia.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:28 -0800
Subject: CONFIRM RECIEPT!
Hello,
My name is Yasir Ali, from Pakistan and I am 19yrs. I have an inheritance
fund of 4million US Dollars from my Late father Mr Yasir
Azizi Mudui, I need your assistance to get this funds invested in your
country due to the political situation here in my country.
I need urgent respond because their will be a presidential election soon and
people are on fear because of past war between the
opposition party with ruling party and the military.
Please if you are available to be my partner and guardian, get back to me
immediately for more details. Thanks for your co-operation and may God
bless you. Write me and for any reason you can not be able to assist me on
this transaction please contact me immediately for me to look another
person.
Thanks.
Reply to my private box: ( wl.x@webdunia.com )
From.
Mr Yasir Ali ( Pakistan)
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Anti-fraud resources:
