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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 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MUBADALA® U.A.E" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brooklynsgb002@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 00:01:35 -0400
Subject: Hello...
Asalaam Alykum.
How are you doing with you family? Insha Allah i hope all is fine.
My name is Wafa Adel. 40 years old . I am from Syria but currently i live in the United Kingdom as asylum seeker because of the crisis going on in our country.
I lost my siblings and mother to the war in Syria and now i am alone in the asylum home in UK. My late father was a man of honor and dignity, he was among the opposition against president Bashar Assad before his death and he was a merchant in the middle east who was very successful in his business. He lost his life in this conflicts, he was shot dead in the chest by president assad men in Aleppo, it was a bitter experienced and I pray that may almighty Allah rest his soul in peace.
The reason why i sent you a message is because i am soliciting with you for a lucreative business transaction that involved the sum of $7 million Dollars which i would like to use for investment and i hope you can help me finalize this transaction.
I would like you know that i can't do this business myself because i am currently living as a refugee in the united kingdom and i don't have my papers yet, so it will be better if i find someone to help me finish this business.
I will tell you more in my second message if you are interested.
SINCERELY
W.ADEL
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Anti-fraud resources:
