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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:
- "here in london united kingdom" (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.
- willaimyoung001@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "WILLIAM YOUNG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willaimyoung001@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 15:22:47 +0200
Subject: LET US WORK TOGTHER FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT
Dear Partner,
I am Mr. William Young, an investment banker working for an international bank here in London United Kingdom. I am soliciting for your partnership in re-profiling of some funds abandoned in our bank by a late customer.
I have been in charge of the financial portfolio since inception therefore are in a better position to divert the said amount for our mutual benefit since no one has come forward to lay claim to the abandoned deposit. Please open the attached message for further details and back to me on my direct email willaimyoung001@yahoo.es if you are interested in working with me on this project.
Best regards
William Young
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Anti-fraud resources:
