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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: <frentana1@libero.it>
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 13:15:43 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Business affairs
Hello
I know that this message will come to you as a surprise. I Hope that
you will not expose or betray this trust and confident that I am about
to repose on you for the mutual benefit of both our children and
our children's childrens. I need your assistance in moving the
sum of (16 m) to your account.
This money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim and
I want it released to you as a next of kin.
I will give you full details on how the business will be executed and
also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned sum while 50%
will be for me, and the other 10% will be for the expenses.
Yours Respectfully
Markus Oseni
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Anti-fraud resources:
