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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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: "Mrs. Shirley Sismer" <liamhigs@eircom.net>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Shirley Sismer" <mrs.shirleysismer02@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 00:30:51 +0100 (IST)
Subject: FROM DR. PAUL SAWADOGO: URGENT REPLY NEEDED
Hello My Dear,
I hope you are in good health while reading this painful letter of mine and it is about my health which the Doctor certified that I have just a few time to live due to the devastating effect of ovarian Cancer in my body system and I have decided to will my fortune to you but hence forth, my doctor Dr. Paul Sawadogo who helped me in writting this letter, will be communicating and directing you on how to claim this fortune worth well over $4.7 Million Dollars from my Bank here in Burkina Faso where I have lived for many years doing the great work of charity though I hail from the Republic of philippnes.
I have prayed hard before contacting you so, don't be scared about how I got your contact but just know that destiny brought the both of us together and please I will like you to invest 80% of this fund on charity and the rest should be for you and your family as I have also donated large chuncks of my fortune to the African Union to help in the eradication of certain diseases on the continent and many more and I hope you won't reject my offer.
Yours
Mrs. Sismer Shirley Acojedo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
