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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- rossilenaswiss@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Rosilena King" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rossilenaswiss@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:23:07 -0600
Subject: Dear Friend: This is my Outreach Project
My Greetings,
I am Mrs Rosilena King diagnosed of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
and my Doctor told me that my Life is now short-lived due to the damage
the cancer has done to me.
Having known this condition, I have decided to entrust my entire estate valued
of (Fifteen million united state dollars) towards the fight against HIV AIDS and
CANCER, to you so that you can utilize this money for the upkeep of widows,
people with Physical disabilities and charities.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly because I do not have any child
by stating
Your full name...........
Your mobile number............
Your age.......................
Your sex...........................
Your identification proof ....................
Your occupation...............................
Your country and city.......................
You will be compensated with 30% of the total sum.
NB: I will apreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in this matter to
accomplish my heart desire, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my
last wish.
Always write me with below email address:(rossilenaswiss@yahoo.com.hk)
Thanks.
Mrs Rosilena King
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