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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin 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.
- mrmartinbuma@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. MARTIN BUMA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmartinbuma@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 17:39:49 -0700
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED PLEASE!
Dear Friend,
I am a senior officer at my bank in Ghana, I have a business opportunity to propose you. We had a foreign client who is a Gold Merchant from your country.Deposited a large sum of money with our bank. Eventually, died in a car accident without next of kin. I want to introduce you to my bank as the next of kin and you will take 50% as your shear.
If you are interested contact me at my email only with your name and phone number: mrmartinbuma@yahoo.com
Mr.Martin Buma
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Anti-fraud resources:
