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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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mariam Habib Nasser <m.nasserhabib@yandex.com>
Reply-To: Mariam Habib Nasser <m.nasserhabib1@yandex.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2016 20:06:01 +0900 (JST)
Subject: In Good Faith
Dear beloved One,
I am Mrs.Mariam Nasser Musa Habib, Wife of Nasser
Habib, from Angola who WAS until his death an exporter of Gold and oil
Explorer in Kuwait and Angola for twelve years before he died. I am
Sending you this email in regards to my last wish. I have been diagnosed
with cancer for a very long period. I have been touched to Will the sum
of $ 3.2million US dollars [three million two hundred thousand United State dollars] from what I have inherited from my late husband to you to
assist me to distribute my funds to charity work through your assistance
organization if you are willing to assist me bring my heart desire to
manifestation for the glory of God Allah, kindly reply me to enable me
give you every legal
information that will enable you to claim the Fund for as my next
of Kin and help me conclude this
humanitarian Project as I can not handle this Project from my sick bed will be waiting for your response Thanks and God Allah blessed you.
Mrs.Mariam Nasser Musa
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Anti-fraud resources:
