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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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 orphan scam.
- 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.
- email-stevenleena@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Leena Steven" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevenleena@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:30:36 -0600
Subject: Miss Leena
Miss.Leena Steven
West Africa
Email-stevenleena@aol.com
Dearest One,
Iam miss Leena Steven the only daughter of late Dr and Mrs Steven from free town in west Africa.
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend in your country.
Though I have not met with you before but I believe, one has to risk in other to succeed in life.
I am in position of Nineteen million Five U.S dollars ($19.5M) which my late Father deposited in a
security company in Europe before he was assassinated by unknown persons during the war in Cote d'ivoire.
Now i want to move this money to invest it in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.
I want you to help me claim and retrieve these fund from the Security company where it was deposited as family valuables and transfer it into your personal account in your country for good investment.
As soon as you retrieve this consignment from the security company i will begin arrangements of coming over to your country to further my education and have a new life.
I wait to receive your quick reply.
Leena Steven
Email-stevenleena@aol.com.
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