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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "remain blessed" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrd Rose Edwinsam <mrsrose_edwinsam0@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: Mrd Rose Edwinsam <roseedwinsam01@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2017 01:27:33 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Donation From Mrs. Rose Edwinsam.:
My Dearest in the Lord,
My dear in the Lord. I am Mrs. Rose Edwinsam, a dying cancer patient who has only few months to live on this earth. I was married to late Mr Steven Edwinsam. I want to make a donation of $2,600,000.00USD (Two Million Six Hundred Thousand United Sates dollar) to you for the work of God and Charity. You have to respond to me with your full detailed information for the processing of the affidavit in your name as my next of kin and new beneficiary to the fund. I am waiting for your urgent answer together with your full data as soon as you receive my message.
I want you to send the following items to me for the procession of the affidavit:
(1) Your full name....
(2) Your address....
(3) Your Nationality....
(4) Your Age / Sex......
(5) Your Occupation.......
(6) Your marital status.....
(7) Your direct telephone number.....
I need these information’s very urgent. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose.
I am hoping to receive your urgent reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ
Mrs Rose Edwinsam.
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Anti-fraud resources:
