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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- miskatline.lopez@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mis katline lopez <peter.kedogo11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: miskatline.lopez@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2016 11:46:21 +0100
Subject: my good friend
That is why I am taking this Decision
I Am Mis katline lopez, A Widow Suffering From illness Cancer I have
Some Funds I inherited From My late loving husband, Mr.lopez Hagay,
the Sum of US ( Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars) which he Deposited in A Bank here And I Need a Very honest
and God fearing person that can use these funds for God's work, and
10% will be for you, for doing this Work of God.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this fund. I don't want a situation where by This Money will be Used
in an Ungodly way. That is why I am taking this Decision. I am not
Afraid of death hence I know where I am going. Please able to use this
fund for helping the Less Privileges and help in the Charity
Organization,
Email: miskatline.lopez@gmail.com
Your sister.
Mis katline lopez
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Anti-fraud resources:
