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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- fl3756309@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Felicia. X" <xx@yy>
Reply-To: fl3756309@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 10:33:26 +0100
Subject: Greetings from Ms. Felicia
I apologize for intruding into your privacy; since we do not know each
other, but pay attention and understand my reasons of contacting you, please
don't be angry with me. I am happy to get in contact with you after
being directed to find a nice, trust worthy and a reliable friend. I was
motivated when I saw your email address when browsing Google. I am here to
seek your advice of which I know that it will help me to overcome my
situations here, I am presently a single girl. In your usual time, may it
please you to e-mail me back So that I will explain more about myself. A
good friendship is the foundation build on other relative things to come. I
wait patiently to hear
from you. Please Write me on my email address (fl3756309@gmail.com)
Thanks and remain blessed
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https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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Anti-fraud resources:
