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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)
- "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Deribo Agidigan." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <deriboagidigan@mail.com.tr>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2015 17:54:14 -0700
Subject: BENEFICIARY OF FUNDS!!
I am Private Adviser to former Minister of Petroleum (Diezani Alison-Madueke). I want you to help my boss receive [US$70.5Million US Dollars] for investment. NB:
This became imperative so we can avoid total lost to the on going onslaught against my boss by the present government in my country
Your share shall be 25% of the total value upon the completion. Please kindly send email bio data so that I can send you more details.
All me for more details on my Direct line 234 8180342037
Respectfully yours,
Deribo Agidigan.
email: deriboagidiga@mail.com.tr
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Anti-fraud resources:
