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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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: British Telecommunications Promotional Company United Kingdom
<myatmdelivery@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:53:07 -0700
Subject: Good News
--
Your E-mail Address has granted you the sum of (£500,000.00 GB Pounds)
Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds in 2016 E-mail Draw which
organized by British Telecommunications Promotional Company United
Kingdom.
To claim send your name,resident address,phone number to REV. EPHREM
CHURCH on below E-mail Address here:
prizedraws@outlook.com
Congratulations!! Once again
Yours in service,
Dr. (Mrs.) Lynda Johnson
[Publicity Secretary]
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Anti-fraud resources:
