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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:
- "million united states 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.
- 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.
- a.dordevici@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Ana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adordevicii@gmx.com>
Date: Wed, 17 May 2017 19:38:12 -0400
Subject: Are you interestered in participating
Dear Sir,
My name is Ana.What I have may be of interest to you, because it is a business proposal that will benefit you.
I have worked for a Company in Europe for some years now.The main reason I am writing to you is based on
the fact that the Company has been Bankrupt and Liquidated for a few years now and the Company has been
ordered to payoff all outstanding creditors what the company owes them.
To this effect I thought that perhaps we could both reach an understanding as regards presenting you as
one of the Creditors of an outstanding payment of USD$10.6 Million United States dollars by making
available to you all the necessary details/documentation to back up your claims which i would be facilitating
myself by the doing the ground work,to ensure you get paid asap.
The money would be split (60% to me and 40% to you )and you can invest this money on a profitable business
managed by you while some of the profit can be used to support charities.
If you are interested kindly get back to me on my private email ( a.dordevici@aol.com )for further full details
and way forward.
Best Regards,
Ms.Ana
a.dordevici@aol.com
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