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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Alex Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fbidelegate_alexwilliams@realtyagent.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:30:41 -0700
Subject: STOP THAT DEAL.
Hello
My name is Alex Williams and i am here in Nigeria as an FBI delegate that has been delegated to investigate this fraudsters who are in the business of swindling the citizens of our great nation America.Please be informed that during my investigation i got to find out that there is a huge sum of $15million that has been assigned in your name and this scammers are busy swindling you without any hope of you receiving your fund.
NOTE: The only fee you where suppose to pay from the beginning is the sum of $110 meant for the logistics before the transfer of your fund depending on how you want the transfer made to you.
The transfer can be done to you in three ways
1)Through Bank to Bank wire transfer.
2)Through ATM card to be shipped to you through the courier service.
3)As a Bank Draft/Cheque to be delivered to you also through the courier service.
Get back to me urgently with the details before for urgent transfer of your fund to you without delay.
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
I shall expect your response as soon as you receive this email.
Best Regard,
Alex Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
