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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ppatrick012@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Philip Patrick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ppatrick014@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 08:28:42 +0100
Subject: Hello
Dear Friend,
I know this email may come to you as a surprise, due to the fact that you don't know me neither have we met. My name is Mr. Philip Patrick; I work with one of the banks in Europe. I am contacting you based on properties allocation.
However, my main reason for contacting you is to seek and reach a mutual agreement with you. Thus I'll need your assistance to enable me and my colleagues transfer the sum of US$30 Million (equivalent) which is to be used mostly on Properties.
I will avail you with more details as soon as I hear from you. Please contact me through ppatrick012@hotmail.com
Warmest regards.
Philip Patrick
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Anti-fraud resources:
