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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Younes <misskonate040@cantv.net>
Reply-To: cmpbest101@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:07:38 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re:Greetings From Ms Younes
Greetings.
Please i know that this is not the conventional way to contact you, but i need you to help me secure my inheritance funds which i inherited from my late parents.I want to TRANSFER my inheritance funds to you for a safe keep & for an investment purposes on these below areas.
1) Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Five Star Hotel
4). Real Estate
5) company enterprise
I am a Girl of 19 years old, i contacted with you because of the Amount sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand united states dollars. ($3.500.000.00) which my late Father Deposited for me in the bank as his next of kin before he died out of sickness.
If you can be of an assistance to me, i will be pleased to offer to you 20% of the total amount.
I will be humbly waiting your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Ms.S Younes
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Anti-fraud resources:
