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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ABDEL YOUNIS" <abdely@ymail.com>
Reply-To: abdelyounis007@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:36:06 +0200 (EET)
Subject: PLEASE REPLY IMMEDIATELY
Attn:
My Name is ABDEL YOUNES, i am One of COL.MUAMMAR GADDAFI`s Army Generals
and am currently in need of a silent foreign partner whom I can trust to
transfer some of the money he deposited in my name in a security company
in Ghana,West Africa.
I want your assistance to Transfer the Sum of ($30.000.000) Thirty
Million United States Dollar to your country for investment in the
property market, i am willing to give you 30% of the total amount for your
assistance and you will help me invest my 70% in properties for me in your
country .
All necessary documents regarding the deposit of the fund in the security
company in Ghana are fully intact with my attorney base in Ghana and i
confirm that the transaction is legitimate and without any risk . Please,
give me your response immediately by returning this mail through my email
address.
Yours Faithfully.
ABDEL YOUNES.
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Anti-fraud resources:
