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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 states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Elliot Francis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <franciselliot2011@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 17:03:06 +0200
Subject: Hello'
Hello,
I am Mr. Francis. Elliot,I contact you because i have been searching for a contact that would help me in a business deal that is worth FOUR MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
I contact you because of your surname that is the same with a deceased business partner of mine.Because your surname is the same with his own surname,i wish to introduce this deal to you so that we can execute and complete the deal together which will earn you 40% of the total sum for your assistance.
Kindly indicate your interest by responding back to me on this email only because it is my private email address opened for the purpose of this deal alone.
Regards.
F. Elliot
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Anti-fraud resources:
