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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:
- "johnmensahp@msn.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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Helen Godwin <emili75@alice.it>
Reply-To: johnmensahp@msn.com
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:58:25 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Urgent Attention to this Email
Urgent Attention to this Email
(ECO BANK)has finalize all the necessary arrangement and your fund 4.8usd has
been convertred into ATM CARD. this moment your ATM CARD is in DHL OFFICE
waiting for your Address were to deliver you
card. INFO:
Your name___
Your country__
Your address___
You’re Age/sex__
Your occupation
Direct phone number__
Your home phone number__
Dr. John Mensah
johnmensahp@msn.com
Call dhl director now, +229-96038072
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Anti-fraud resources:
