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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Greetings to you and your family." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jeremythorp1069@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:14:48 -0700
Subject: Dear Respectful Friend
Dear Respectful Friend,
I wish to seek your assistance for the transfer of depository made by a foreign investor for an investment program that has remained dormant for years now. I discovered that the account holder died without making a WILL on the depository.
You will stand as next of kin to the fund, it will be shared 50%/50%, as this is a TWO-men business deal transaction. I will appreciate your early reply for commencement of business.
I await your urgent response.
Thanks with great regards.
Mr.Jeremy Thorpe
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Anti-fraud resources:
