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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- infosubmitdesk@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Elizabeth" <Walker@etone.tv>
Reply-To: infosubmitdesk@aim.com
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2017 22:58:45 +0000
Subject: 2017 SEDI Program Invitation
Dear Sir/Madam
Warm greetings from Socio Economic Development Impaction, We are pleased to invite you to attend the international symposium event scheduled to take place in the month of Date: March 20th - 25th 2017 in Texas city, USA. The international symposium event topics are Sustainable Healthcare System & Economic Development related to the issues of economic growth as it affects our communities and social lives.
The sponsors of the symposium event will cover the cost of your round-trip air tickets from your country to the United States and back to your country and we shall also provide assistance for your visa documents processing with the America embassy in your country to attend the symposium event. You are to contact the event secretary to receive registration application forms and more information to apply for the symposium event.
Registration Desk
Email: infosubmitdesk@aim.com
I look forward to your honorable presence at the symposium venue,
Warm Regards
Dr. Elizabeth Walker
SEDI Program Assistant
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Anti-fraud resources:
