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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- olilausentnell@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Olivia Nell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <olilausentnell@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 02:46:00 +0200
Subject: A Donation From My Heart.
<HTML><BODY>Greetings in the name of God my names is Mrs. Olivia Nell Now undergoing medical treatment here in Crichton Royal Hospital Scotland UK. I am married to late Eng. Jackson S. Nell who worked as a contractor in North Africa before death in last Two years. We were married for fifteen years without a child. My condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that I may not survive according to the doctor's report, because of the current stage of the cancer coupled with my old age. l have decided to divide part of my fortune,by contributing to the Charities & Motherless. I am willing to donate the sum of $8,450,000.00 USD to the poor through you, only if you prove to be honest and God fearing.
These little ones needs every help they can get. Contact me through my personal email address: olilausentnell@gmail.com Mrs. Olivia Nell </BODY></HTML>
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Anti-fraud resources:
