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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "stevenblackwell@yeah.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "STEVEN BLACKWELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevenblackwell01@superposta.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 01:18:16 +0200
Subject: please clarify your Interest immediately .
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to contact you personally for urgent assistance,long term relationship and business investment in your Country. I am convinced that you are the person who can assist me in this pending transaction.
I am Mr.Steve G. Blackwell, A Fund Manager with the Fidelity Investment International UK. I am contacting you based on my personal interest to develop a mutual business relationship with you in your country. The amount and terms of executing the deal will be made known to you upon receiving a positive response from you. I solicit for your assistance to execute this transaction.
I will give you a complete picture of this transaction as soon as I hear from you. Reach me on this telephone +44-792-451-1682 or send your response via my e-mail: stevenblackwell@yeah.net
I look forward to hearing from you soonest.
Regards,
Mr.Steve G. Blackwell.
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Anti-fraud resources:
