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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Henry Song" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hsomg06@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:56:38 +0800
Subject: Please Read and respond (Important)
Attention Sir
I am sorry to approach you in this manner but i have no other option than to write you in this manner, pardon me if it broke your protocol, well I am Henry song I Banker (Banker Manager) in CIMB Bank Malaysia,
Please I have a deal I would want to discuss with you in confidence that will profit both of us. Kindly acknowledge this email for the full details if we can go into it, it is 100% risk free deal.
Thank you in anticipation as I look for ward to hearing from you ASAP
Regards
Henry Song
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Anti-fraud resources: