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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Annette Dean <anettedean00@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Annette Dean <annettedean00@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:07:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello, let me know if you can
Hi Dear
I seek your consent to partner me to secure funds for a partnership business soon. The funds is for investment purposes as you will play the role of our family foreign partner.
I have the belief of your ability to render this partnership assistance to me. If however you wont be able to play this role inform me in a reply email.
I want you to assist me secure funds total Seventeen million Us Dollars ($17M) and some gold of my father in my home country, to enable us venture into business with you on completion.I will give you more details and clarification after i receive your candid acceptance to help me and play the role of my family foreigner partner to secure the funds.
My father then made this deposit in a financial firm and informed them that it will be transferred to our foreign partners country, when he or his next of kin directs them and it was after his death in the downed Malaysian airline MH17 by rebels over UKRAINE on the 17th day of July 2014 , that i decided to seek your help to play the role of a reliable foreigner that will assist me to secure and transfer it
So that i will go into business with you when completed and arrive to meet you. I will wait to hear from you for all details and clarifications to enable us proceed.
Best regards
A.Dean
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Anti-fraud resources:
