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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:
- "00,000.00" (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 next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: weishengyongrui@gmail.com
Reply-To: Weisheng.bojing@qq.com
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 15:24:56 +0800
Subject: ***SPAM*** Goodmorning Sir/Madam
Hello,
I work in Bank of China London, UK.
A client of ours died in the TYPHOON HAIYAN attack that happened in the PHILIPPINES On Friday the 8th of November 2013 . See links below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24863480
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24878801
I want you to stand in as his NEXT OF KIN to receive the sum of US$18,400,000.00.from our bank.
I will give you more details when you write back.
Regards,
Weisheng B. Yongrui
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Anti-fraud resources:
