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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Michelle Obama <WWW.@train.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Michelle Obama <mrsmicheleobama8@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 10:29:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION:
ATTENTION:
This mail is coming to you from the office of, Mrs. Michelle
Obama, and I am writing to inform you about your Bank Check
Draft brought back by the United Embassy from the government of
Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC been mandated to
be deliver to your home address once you reconfirm it with the
one we have here with us to avoid wrong delivery Six million
united states dollars 6,000,000,usd that was assigned to be
delivered to your humble home address by my husband Honorable
president Barrack Obama the president of this great country this
week by a delivery agent Mr JAMES BOOMBERG I will like you to
reconfirm to me the following details and bear it in mind that
it will cost you $55 only.
Your phone number$B!D!D!D!D(B..?
Your current home address$B!D!D(B?
Your full name$B!D!D!D!D!D!D!D(B?
Occupation...................
The reason I ask you to reconfirm to me this following details
is to avoid wrong delivery. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
ORIGIN OF YOUR FUND YOU CAN CALL OR TEXT MY HUSBAND THE
PRESIDENT OF THIS GREAT NATION (213) 263-7316
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Anti-fraud resources:
