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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 pounds" (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.)
- "rina.patel@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Rina Patel <rina.patel@gov.uk>
Reply-To: rina.patel@qq.com
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 15:28:46 -0500
Subject: Kindly Assist
My name is Rina Patel from Japan, I was married to Late
Sir Patel an English Man from the United Kingdom who was an oil explorer
in Libya and Kuwait for twelve years before he died in the year 2010.
I am an E.C. patient without any child and presently hospitalized.I
was abandoned
by relatives. my doctor says I have few days to live and I desire to
stay within the confinement of my hospital room and live out my last
days on earth quietly. I asked that my hospital room be equipped with
a laptop for me to take care of some outstanding issues.One of which
is my desire to donate an amount of money(Two Million Pounds) to cancer
research institutes and other charity organizations.I decided to come
online and find some one remotely afar who can receive the funds from
where it has been deposited and disburse the money to cancer research
institutes and other deserving charity organizations. 25% can go for
your personal needs for your time taken from your busy schedule to work
with me on this sole act of charity. Indicate your wiliness to assist by
sending an email to my private email box (rina.patel@qq.com)
My barrister will contact you immediately as he will be informed.
The Holy Spirit led me to do it this way. Please be prayerful all through your
life. Until I hear from you my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders.
Kind Regards,
Rina Patel
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