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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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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: "MRS. SUSAN ALTY." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <su.alty@att.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:31:11 -0500
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU
Dear Friend,
I am Barrister Mrs. Susan Alty, an attorney at law. I hoped that you will not expose or betray this trust. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of $10.5 million from Credit Suisse First Boston Bank London immediately to your account. I will send you full details on how the business will be executed; I want you to furnish me with this detail??s:
(1)NAME..............
(2)AGE:................
(3)SEX:....................
(4)PHONE NUMBER:.................
(5)OCCUPATION :....................
(6)YOUR COUNTRY:....................
After transaction you and me can Share the money 60% to me and 40% to you.
BEST REGARD BARRISTER
MRS. SUSAN ALTY.
(Attorney at Law)
Email: su.alty@att.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
