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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: FROM UNITED NATIONS <offigeneral@virgilio.it>
Reply-To: mailoffice5060@virgilio.it
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:46:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: RE:
RE:
How are you today,Now that your Fund is ready to be released to you from
our Bank, you are advice
to make your choice of your payment from our payment
methods so that your Fund will be released
to you,
(1) WILL OPEN AN ONLINE
ACCOUNT FOR YOU IN ANY OF OUR CHOICE BANK.
(2) ATM CARD THROUGH ANY OF OUR
CHOICE BANK.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Thanks
Mr Frank Anderson
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Anti-fraud resources:
