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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 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: "Mr. Jeh Charles Johnson" <esjam165@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jeh Charles Johnson" <jeh.johnson@xd.ae>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:23:45 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Secretary us department of homeland security.
 Text only +1(206)745-8456
I am Mr. Jeh Charles Johnson. The secretary us department of homeland security Washington DC, I went on an investigation to Africa and on my arrival I found your file untouched at the desk of united nation compensation unit. The file happened to be your over due inheritance compensation fund from united nation for the current world ongoing compensation program and world economy meltdown. The fund values the sum of $4.5 million dollars. So kindly reconfirm your full details via email (jehjohnson@56788.com) as instructed below.
1. Full name.........
2. Phone number...................
3. Current home address............
4. Occupation..................
5. Nearest Airport................
I wait for your urgent and positive respond.
 Sincerely Yours
Mr. Jeh Charles Johnson
Secretary us department of homeland security.
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Anti-fraud resources:
