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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: hotmail team <no-reply-account.update@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 00:48:24 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS.
GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD.
I am Mrs.Marlene Street from MICHIGAN writing you this email hoping it
will meet you in good condition I am a deaf and I am suffering from a
long time illness which I feel has not give me the power to fulfill my
heart desires for the poor people which I such care for during my good
healthy days.
My dear I write you this email to seek for your email help in receiving
sum of my funds which was deposited in a security company in United
States by my late husband, this funds I want you to distribute to
motherless baby homes, widows, orphanage homes etc.
If you will be willing to do this on my behalf as a trustworthy
Christian please reply me for more details, when I get your response I
will give you the contact of the security company so that you can
contact them via email for the release of the funds to you will tell you
the amount when I get your response.
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Anti-fraud resources:
