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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:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. SEBAH AHMAD." <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: sebah-ahmad@qq.com
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:56:08 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Good Day!!!
Good Day,
I am Mrs. Sebah Ahmad contacting you regarding transaction linked with my
late husband Mr. Mamuod Ahmad who was the former head of the Oil Explorer
in Kuwait and Russia before his death. I am his legal wife till the date
of death and I have a "CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSITION" for you, it's
to the tune of {$19.5 Million US Dollars} and i want this organization or
individual to use this money in all sincerity to fund charity homes
(Motherless Homes), orphanages, and widows.
Please get back to me if you can help me to carry out my dream because
right now i am on the sick bed.
I look forward to hear from you on my private email: sebah-ahmad@qq.com
REPLY VIA: sebah-ahmad@qq.com
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Sebah Ahmad.
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Anti-fraud resources:
