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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Joan Duncan <mrsjoan10@waco1.me>
Reply-To: <mrsjoanduncan1@yahoo.de>
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:20:56 +0300
Subject: Compliments of the Seasons
Dear Sir/Madam Good Morning Compliments of the Seasons I am Mrs Joan Duncan=
. Please can you be able to handle Five Million Dollars because I have been=
very sick and admitted in the hospital and the doctor advised me that I ne=
ed enough rest and relax mind so that I can do the surgical operation? Plea=
se response very fast so that I can email and explain to you the full infor=
mation in good faith before the doctors can carry out the operation that I =
am about to do any moment from now. Please always for me because i am sendi=
ng you this message from the hospital bed. Waiting for your urgent reply Th=
anks and remain bless Mrs Joan Duncan
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Anti-fraud resources:
