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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: Faith Joseph <faithjoseph434@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Faith Joseph <faithjoseph0000@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 17:09:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello Dear
Hello Dear
I am Mrs Faith Joseph I have some Fund to Donation my late husband deposited the sum of One Million British Pound Sterling (£1,000,000.00 GBP) in a Storage Security Company here in London, using my name as the beneficiary when he was alive is a very important confidential massage that I will like to tell you more about it,I can fully detail you what I chose you for and as well give you a little knowledge on how to achieve it in organization or individual for this purpose.
I need Your Urgently Reply.
Sincerely,
Mrs.Faith.
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Anti-fraud resources:
