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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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: Miss Linda <lin_da20@bigmir.net>
Reply-To: Miss Linda <lindadada89@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:42:32 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello i need your assistance urgent please
DEAREST,
I KNOW THAT MY MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE I DON`T KNOW YOU IN PERSON OR MET WITH YOU BEFORE, BUT I AM OF THE BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD USE YOU TO COME TO MY HELP.
I AM LINDA DADA,THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR. BEN DADA. WHO WAS MURDERED ALONGSIDE MY MOTHER AND ONLY BROTHER BY REBELS. I AM PRESENTLY IN AN ORPHANAGE BECAUSE OF WICKEDNESS OF UNCLE'S AND RELATIVES.
BEFORE HIS DEATH HE HAD A DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT HERE, UP TO THE TUNE OF ( SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) PLEASE I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS MONEY TRANSFERRED TO YOU FOR MY EDUCATION, INVESTMENT AND TO BE MY GUARDIAN BEFORE MY UNCLES WILL GET HOLD OF ME AND THE MONEY. I SHALL FORWARD TO YOU WITH THE NECESSARY DETAILS ON CONFIRMATION OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO ASSIST ME FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY TO YOU. AS YOU WILL HELP ME TO TRAVEL AND TO COMPLETE MY STUDIES.I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU REASONABLE PERCENTAGE FROM THE TOTAL MONEY AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT.
MAY GOD TOUCH YOUR HEART AND USE YOU TO BRING BACK HAPPINESS AND JOY IN MY LIFE.
BEST REGARDLINDA DADA
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Anti-fraud resources:
