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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer into your account" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Nora Qattara <m_r_t154@live.com>
Reply-To: m_r_t154@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 10:22:11 +0200
Subject: Please I really need you to stand as my Guardian.
,
Please I really need you to stand as my Guardian.
I am Miss Nora Qattara. I am contacting you because i needed your help
in the management of a sum of fund that my late father Mr. Johnson
Qattara. Left for me before he died.
The fund is deposited in one of the finical house ($8.5 million u.s
dollars ). I will offer you 25% of the total amount for helping me to
transfer the fund into your account. I want you to stand as my guardian and
appointed beneficiary and the fund will be transfer into your account
in your country. Since i am only 20year old age and without mother and
father.
Please i will like you to reply to this email so that i will tell you
all the information details, on how you will help me here is my
private email where you will reply me for more information. I am
waiting for your urgently
reply.
Thanks and god bless you and your family.
Your sincerely,
Miss Nora Qattara
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Anti-fraud resources:
