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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 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)
- "00,000.00" (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: "David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidmoore909@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2016 05:08:11 +0700
Subject: Hi
For Your Attention:
Please,We wish to notify you again that you were listed as an Heir and a beneficiary to the total sum of Twelve
Million United States Dollars ($12,000,000.00) in the codicil and last testament of a deceased customer.
(Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you).
We contacted you the second time because his Deposit Bond with us stipulated that this fund should be paid
directly to you should in case of his death.On receipt of this notice, we request you to kindly acknowledge officially to enabling us file in all necessary documents
for the release of your inheritance.
Please contact this bank via this email for payment procedures with this
details of yours;
Full Names and age :
Contact address :
Phone:
Occupation:
So that the documents will be prepared in your names as the beneficiary by the probate court.
Reply me back as soon as possible on how to proceed.
For your payment procedures.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr David Moore
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Anti-fraud resources:
