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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: johshua ezra <johshua_ezra@yahoo.com.sg>
Reply-To: western_union@inbox.ru
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:52:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN Nigeria NOW.
Att: My Dear Friend,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Chile. Presently I'm in Chile for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how. Now contact my secretary, his name is
NAME; Michael Marks,
EMAIL:( MichaelMarks4@w.cn )
ask him to send you the total sum of ($900.000.00)
Nine hundred thousand united state dollars which I kept for your
compensation. CONTACT HIM ON this email( MichaelMarks4@w.cn ).
You are to send alongside with the following detailed information about yourself to enable him locate you:
Your full name...............
Age..........................
Home Adress..................
Your sex.....................
Your Occupation..............
Address......................
Phone/Fax Numbers............
Country location.............
Regards,
Mr.johshua ezra.
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Anti-fraud resources:
