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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Engineer Uematsu Kunio <engineerkunio18@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: uematsu_kunio@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 11:17:23 +0100 (BST)
Subject:
Dear Beloved,
My name is Engineer Uematsu Kunio from Osaka Japan now in Hospital,i got sick after i lose my family in Japanese Earthquake.i was working with Government of Ghana in Africa before the tragedy occurred, before i was hospitalized here i deposited a Consignment Box with a Security Company in Accra Ghana which i want them to ship out to your Country.i want you to be my foreign beneficiary in this transaction.
The Content of the Consignment Box is the sum of $2.800.000.00 i made this money after my contract with the Government of the Country.i will like to invest this fund with you in your Country.please reply back so that i can contact the Security Company for the shipment of the Box to your care,
Best regards
Engineer Uematsu Kunio,
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Anti-fraud resources:
