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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:
- "dearest beloved one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Samanthan Blenda Konan <blendakonan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Samanthan Blenda Konan <samantha1konan@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2017 21:04:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Mrs.Konan Blenda A cry for help
Dearest
beloved One,
I am Mrs.Konan
Blenda the wife of Mr. Fedric Konan, from Angola who was until his death an
exporter of Gold and oil explorer in Kuwait and Angola for twelve years before
he died. I am sending you this email in regards to my last wish. I have been
diagnosed with cancer for a very long period. I have been touched to Will the
sum of $2.5million US dollars from what I have inherited from my late husband
to you to assist me to distribute my funds to charity organization if you are
willing to assist me bring my heart desire to manifestation for the glory of
God, kindly reply me to enable me give you every legal information that will
enable you to claim the Fund for God as I can not handle this project from my
sick bed. I will be waiting for your response.
Thanks and
God bless you.
Mrs.Konan
Blenda
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Anti-fraud resources:
