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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- comatosekristina@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Comatose Kristina" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <comatosekristina@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 12:32:27 -0800
Subject: Ref: Information about Your late Relation / Family member
Ref: Information about Your late Relation / Family member
I am Comatose Kristina, Foreign Transfer Manager and an Investment adviser/sole executor .There is Estate (Cash deposit of $5.5Million US Dollars in our bank and some landed Properties) belonging to late Mr Jessica Boma whom I will like to discuss with you. Once I receive your response I shall provide you with all the privileged information / legal documents relating to the deceased Estate and also give you guidelines on how to realize this goal without any breach of the law.
I would respectfully request that you treat the content of this letter with privileged, confidential and respect the integrity of this information. Contact me immediately for more information and to begin the legal process of redeeming legitimate tasks and entitlement between both of us before the bank is compelled by law to hand over the money to the government.
This is the only means and attempt to reach you in view of this subject matter. Reply to my private email address (comatosekristina@yahoo.com )
Kind Regards,
Comatose Kristina
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Anti-fraud resources:
