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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:
- "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)
- "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.
- stellabenson21@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Stella Benson <linizar1900@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stellabenson21@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 11:25:41 +0000
Subject: Ms Stella Benson
Greeting to you,
I am Ms Stella Benson the only daughter of late Mr and Mrs Daniel Benson
from Republic of Togo, I wish to request your assistance in a financial
transaction and wish to invest in Manufacturing and Real Estate Management
in your country. I inherited the sum of Twelve million Eight hundred
thousand dollars.USD($12.800,000.00) from my late father and I want to
invest this fund in your country. I will require your assistance to receive
the funds in your personal account for investment in your country. I will
gladly give you 20% of the total sum for your assistance. Please it is very
important you contact me immediately on my email (stellabenson21@gmail.com)
for further explanation on how we will work together.
Awaiting your immediate response
Thanks and God bless
Best Regards
Ms Stella Benson
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Anti-fraud resources:
