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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: cathylinda28@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2017 07:48:37 -0700
Subject: HELLO
Dear Sir/madam
My names are Mrs. Linda Erwin, I am 70 years old. I am a dying woman who was diagnosed of Lungs and Brain cancers years ago. I have decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless babies/less privileged/widows. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good work of God. Please if you are ready to assist me distribute my funds of Twenty million Dollars($20,000,000) to charity.
Awaiting your reply.
Your sister in Christ,
Mrs Linda Erwin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
