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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: DR ABREHAM NWANKWO <gtmailc@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gtmail4don1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 20:40:22 -0400
Subject: Thank you for your gracious time
GOODY FRIEND.,,,
I apologize for this interruption; I have no other way to reach you
first than these because it is personal. Please do accept my apology.
DR ABREHAM NWANKWO is my name .
The message was to ask for your partnership and to receive the sum of
{Seven million two hundred thousand pounds} deposited with a company
for investment in your country.
I will send you more information and procedures when I receive a
positive response from you.
I look forward to your URGENT reply.
Yours sincerely,
DR ABREHAM NWANKWO
NB
PLEASE CHECK YOUR BULK OR SPAM AND SEE IF MY MAIL IS THERE..
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Anti-fraud resources:
