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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:
- "cherrykathleen@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sen.Lawrence Allison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cherrykathleen@qatar.io>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 03:10:58 -0700
Subject: Our Ref: SGN /SNT/STB
OFFICE OF THE SENATE HOUSE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
(RESOLUTION PANEL ON CONTRACT PAYMENT)
IKOYI-LAGOS NIGERIA
Our Ref: SGN /SNT/STB
I Officially inform you that (ATM Cash Card Number 62805120033800) has
been accredited in your favor.Your Cash Card Personal Identification
Number is 2501.The ATM Card Value is $900,000 Thousand USD. You are
advised to contact my Secretary for delivery as soon as possible:
Mrs.Cherry Kathleen
Email:cherrykathleen@qatar.io
With the following information.
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:SEX:
AGE:
EMAIL:
SEN).LAWRENCE ALLISON
CHAIRMAN SENATE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN PAYMENT.
Note: be inform that you are responsible for the cost of delivery to you which
is $155usd to DHL delivery service.
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Anti-fraud resources: