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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Dora Saki <dora02saki@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:18:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HI
Hello Dear,
My name is Dora Saki, I hope it will not be a greater surprise to get this request. I need your urgent assistance in every area of my life. I found and reach to your contact in order to make a dream reality. I want you to understand that happiness is made for those who look and search for it. I will send you my picture in next email for you to know whom i am. And i will like you to reply me this mail through your private email address. You also remember that distance or colour does not matters, but love and understanding matter a lot in life. I will tell you more in next email.
Thanks and God bless!
Dora.
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Anti-fraud resources:
