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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "ms_olivia_y2k@ymail.com" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Samson" <samson_i25@virgilio.it>
Reply-To: mr.samson_i20@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:40:54 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CASH CARD
My Dear
The sum of 1.2million out of your over due total sum has been
approved for payment through ATM cash card system after all attempts to pay
you
through bank, diplomatic and courier failed. The approved sum will be
programmed into the ATM cash card and dispatched to your address. We made
several attempts to contact you and this is the 3rd and perhaps the last email
to you in respect of this matter. We received a power of attorney from one
JOHN
GRIMLEY from USA,purportedly issued by you asking us to change the
beneficiary to him hence we are seeking for your confirmation.The above
requested details should be sent to MS.OLIVIA BARBARA TETTEY,Contact
(ms_olivia_y2k@ymail.com) soon as possible.
Yours respectfully,
Mr.Samson Ige.
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Anti-fraud resources:
