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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:
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Yahoo Staff" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <staff_linda@ymail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:10:16 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGIAN !!!!
DEAR YAHOO ANNOUNCE PROMO WINNER,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
You have been consider for a lump sum payout of $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) after many attempts without success in the YAHOO Announce PROMO. Kindly re - confirm your details information's for onward dispatch of your cash payment without further delay.
Full Name:
Contact Address:
Telephone
Occupation:
Age:
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Meanwhile, we thank you for your co-operation and prompt response.
Once more CONGRATULATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrs. Linda Collori
Executive Secretary.
Integrated payment department
The Yahoo staff
Yahoo.com http://www.yahoo.com
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This e-mail may contain confidential or privileged information. If you think you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this e-mail immediately. Thank you.
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Anti-fraud resources:
