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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:
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://www.419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "million united states 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Lemmy Dumaka <drlemmydumaka@live.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2014 06:41:59 -0600
Subject: Business Matter
Hello Friend
Good day. Do not be offended for Intruding your privacy rather see this as an Opportunity that MUST be Utilized for such Opportunities seldom Comes all the time.My Name is Skabarov a Banker and Married with kids. I am the Data Processing Officer with Bank of Cyprus UK I am also an Account Officer with one of Liberia's Richest Men,a Miner and an Industrialist who Unfortunately had no Child.
This man Made a 12 Months Fixed Deposit with the Bank totalling Twenty Million United States Dollars (USD20M) on the 19th of December 2008 but Unfortunately died on 20th January 2009 as a Result of Heart attack/Failure. I am Contacting you so that we work together towards getting this Money with the interest to your account as his Business Associate. I am willing to share with you this Money on 50/50 Basis.I have the Death Certificate and other important details that has to do with this business so do get back to ne so that we Discuss further on this issue and what your Roles shall be. This Proposal is 100% Risk Free and deviod of any encumbrances
MS
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Anti-fraud resources:
