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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:
- ",000,000" (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: Hills Foundation <hillsfoundation@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: mark.cindyhill@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 03:56:20 -0600
Subject: COMPLETE VERIFICATION
HAPPY NEWYEAR AND WELCOME TO 2014.
I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WE HAD A SUCCESS IN 2013 DISBURSING GRANTS MONIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, TO INDIVIDUALS / CHARITIES / DISASTER REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD!!
NOW IN 2014, WE CONCLUDED THE SELECTION PROCESS BY CAREFUL BALLOTING OF HOST OF EMAILS AS SUBMITTED BY MICROSOFT AND SANCTIONED BY FTC.
HENCE CONGRATULATIONS AS YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE $1,000,000 USD ALONG WITH OTHER 4 BENEFICIARIES.
THIS GOODWIL GESTURE IS COURTESY- MARK AND CINDY HILL: POWERBALL LOTTERY WINNERS AND BENEFACTOR OF THIS GOODWILL ACT SINCE 2012.
FOR YOUR PERUSAL: http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2012/112812MO_Hill.shtml
HILL'S FOUNDATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
