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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Farah Mohd" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mohdfarah19@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:31:38 +0800
Subject: Hello
My dear,
Please accept my highest regards and esteem.I have reasons to contact you. I am writing with heavy tears in my eyes. I don't mean to disturb or bug you but after the doctors said I have three months to live I became desperate. I really need your help in setting up a charity organization and to help the less privileged in your country or any other place.
Write me back so I can tell you my story and why I decided to come to you like this.
Please write me back if you will help me make my dying wish come true.
Don't look away after reading my message, I truly need your help to do this.
I am truly sorry if I disturbed your peace.
warms regards and remain
Mrs Farah
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Anti-fraud resources:
