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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Frank Bolden" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frank.bolden11@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 02:56:45 +0100
Subject: Inheritance Release Notice
Good Day
This is to notify you that your long awaited funds of US$15.5 Million has been brought into your continent
The funds was delivered with a United Nations Cargo plane and cleared customs at the airport without hitches. It has been deposited in a Secure Storage facility for safekeeping until arrangements is concluded for you to pick it up.
If you are still interested in receiving the funds, please provide your residential address, your direct telephone number as well as your occupation.
Regards
Frank Bolden
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Anti-fraud resources:
