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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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)
- This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
- 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.
- williamsimon588@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "william simon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsimon588@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 02:59:12 -0500
Subject: hi
Hello,
Please take your time to read this message; although we have never met before,
this is no spam. It's a real message sent to you. I know also that you will be
amazed at the level of trust that I am willing to place in a person that I
have never seen nor spoken with.
I am william simon and i have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment and Right now, I have
only about a few months to live and I want you to Distribute my funds
of eight million united states dollars to charities. I have set aside
40% of this funds to you this should be confidential my friend
reply me on
williamsimon588@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
