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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 one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Ediva Davis <edivadavis0@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Ediva Davis <edivadavis000@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 02:52:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please i am Looking forward to your reply for more details
Good day dearest One,
My name is Miss Ediva Davis i have an important Issus I will like to discuss with you and your family. This will be for mutual benefit for both of us as I will like us to work together in securing my inheritance fund from bank, my late father deposited $6.5 million U.S.Dollars in the bank for me before he die. Which I am ready to work with you if only you will be willing to assist me, Please I am ready to offer you 30% of the fund for your help and whatever you send to see that you bring me to your country for the betterment of my life. And also try to reply to me for more information.
Thanks for your anticipated understanding.
I shall be waiting for your kind urgent reply as soon as you get this letter.
Your sincerely,
Miss Ediva Davis.
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Anti-fraud resources: