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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:
- "million pounds" (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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: Charity Foundation <54091@mailbox.hu>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 00:09:51 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: your support and sincerity. [waiting to hear from you
email: 54091@mailbox.huAlthough, I am not comfortable discussing the content of my mail on the Internet owing to lots of unsolicited/Spam
mails on the net nowadays. Anyway I do not have the access to telephone calls for medical reasons. my message is simple. I have made up my mind to will my late Husband's fund to you so that you can use it for charity duties and good work to humanity in your country. The amount is 3.5million Pounds sterling. And I will be glad if you can get back to me on my personal and secured email address before I can give you further information on this subject. My secured email address is: 54091@mailbox.huGod bless you.
Mrs Vuyelwa Parkinson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
