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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 us dollars" (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: mrstina zongo <mrstinazongo59@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrstinazongo@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:24:12 +0000
Subject: THIS IS MY WISH
​I am Mrs. Tina Zongo, I am a dying woman who have decided to donate
what I have to motherless babies/less privileged/widows.I was
diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by
Allah the most merciful and beneficent to donate from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you for good work. I have asked
Allah the most merciful and beneficent to forgive me and believe He
has because He is merciful.
I decided to WILL/donate the sum of 2.3 million US Dollars to you to
help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of
the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now
due to the fact that my health status is not alright though i will be
able to communicate with you via phone when my doctor certify me
alright to talk for health reasons.
I wish you all the best and may Allah the most merciful and beneficent
bless you abundantly, and please use the Funds judiciously and always
extend the good work to others. As soon you get back to me, I shall
give you information on how you will contact the bank for my balance
money to be transferred to you in your country.
Kind regards,
Mrs. Tina Zongo
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Anti-fraud resources:
