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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mathew Bruno" <cspmra@alice.it>
Reply-To: mathewnnabruno@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2015 14:52:36 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Kind Regards
Kind Regards On a very happy note I wish to inform you that Barrister Ike Marthins has been directed to release to you, the sum of Three million, four hundred and sixty one thousand two hundred and ninety four United States dollar forty two cent (US$3,461,294.42). Please contact Barrister Marthins to get this sum released to you without further delay. You can reach him on his information here below.
Name: Barrister Ike Marthins.Email: barrikemarthins@yahoo.comTelephone: +229 93 810 392 Yours sincerely,Dr. Mathew BrunoFCRFTF
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Anti-fraud resources:
