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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Malvin Gibson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <malvingibson@foxmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 12:11:06 -0500
Subject: PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THIS FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT
ATTENTION:
How are you doing today? I hope all is fine with you and your Family. I have been waiting for a Long time for you to contact me for your Incomplete compensation Funds of $8.5m (Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars). Kindly get back to me with Your Full name, Your Address, Your Phone Number, Occupation and a scan Identity of yours to complete this transaction. I am not forcing you on this but this is for your own Good.
I await your Urgent Response.
Remain Blessed
Dr. Malvin Gibson
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Anti-fraud resources:
