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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 pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Armando fernando <armando.fernando@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: Armando fernando <armandofenando1@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:46:50 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CAN WE WORK TOGETHER?REPLY
Good Day!
Kindly read below and confirm if you are interested to strike the deal with me.
The sum of Twenty Five Million Pounds Only (GBP25,000,000.00) has been diverted to an anonymous Bank as a result of Failed ICELANDIC Bank in UK . These FUNDS in question is currently waiting to be transferred to a confident account oversees. I am thereof seeking for a Partner that can be used as the BENEFICIARY of the said funds for speedy transfer of the funds without delay. If you are interested to partner with me in this offer, feel free to email me your Private Telephone Numbers for further discussion of this offer in full details. Our mode of sharing is 60:40.Finally,this transaction is risk free and has no legal implication attached and will provide you the detail road map on how this deal will be transacted following the receipt of your positive response on this subject matter.
Thank you.
Respectfully Yours,
Fernando Arnando
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Anti-fraud resources:
