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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 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.
- +22504531221 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Patricia Knewl <knewl_m@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 13:27:48 +0100
Subject: Hello dear,
*Hello dear,I'm Mrs. Patricia Knewl a born again Christian and a widow, and
I need your assistance to help me transfer this $5Million to your account
for investment in your Country and I assumed that you can get this fund and
help me / my only son philip. my intention is for you to invest this money
in the name of my only son philip.Reply back to me immediately for more
Details of the fund.here is my telephone number in case if you call if am
not around my son philip will anwser you on my behalf why because i always
at the church for prayer. he knows about the deposit +225 0453 1221Thank
you,Mrs. Patricia Knewl*
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Anti-fraud resources:
