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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:
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Faartir Ibrahim" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <belloanderson_legalsolicitor1@qatar.io>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:04:06 +0800
Subject: Please Read!!!
Good Day.
My name is Mr .Faartir Ibrahim. I am a dying man who had decided to donate
what I have to you for the up keeping of the Orphan and the less-privilage. I am 69 years old
and was diagnosed for cancer about 2years ago and my doctor just told me that i have
limited days to leave and i have no relatives. Kindly Contact my lawyer barrister Bello Anderson
if you are interested in carrying out this task by replying to this email,so that he can arrange the
release of the funds($12,500,000.00) to you. I know I have never met you but my mind tell
me to do this and i hope you act sincerely.Thank you and God bless you. Mr .Faartir Ibrahim.
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Anti-fraud resources:
