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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Emmanuel Mark <mark_emmanuel33@yahoo.com.vn>
Reply-To: mark_emmanuel33@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:24:44 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Re: Good News.
COUR DE JUSTICE, COTONOU
BP 3450
RUE DE JUSTICE PK 6 EKPE
COTONOU, REPUBLIC DU BENIN
ATTN: SIR / MADAM,
NOTE THAT THIS OFFER COME FROM MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC IN WEST AFRICA. THIS IS TO INFORM ALLTHE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN VICTIM OF SCAM IN AFRICA. THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IS COMPENSATING THE SCAM VICTIM THE SUM OF $250.000.00 US DOLLARS FOR EACH PERSON.
BEFORE WILL PROCEED FOR YOUR PAYMENT.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU.
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY THIS MAIL IF YOU ARE NOT AMONG WITH THE SCAM VICTIM.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOUR BETTER.
MR MARK EMMANUEL.
(MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS)
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Anti-fraud resources:
