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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- address.draliraha@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: DR Ali Raha <draliraha11@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 19:08:21 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend
Dear Friend
My Name is DR.ALI RAHA .I am a banker by professio .I hail from
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa.My reason for contacting you is to
transfer an abandoned $10, 300, 000.00 (Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand
Dollars) to your account.
The owner of this fund died since 2003 with his Next Of Kin. I want to
present you to the bank as the Next of Kin/beneficiary of this fund.
Further details of the transaction shall be forwarded to you as soon as I
receive your return mail indicating your interest.you can contact me at
this private email address.draliraha@gmail.com
Best regards,
DR.ALI RAHA
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Anti-fraud resources:
