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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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 orphan scam.
- 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.
- littlecindy18@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Cindy Pinda" <dark_city_tw@yahoo.com>
Date:
Subject: I am Cindy
Hi,
I am Cindy and my surname is Pinda.I am 18 years old. My father was a
very wealthy oil merchant and businessman in Turkey. My father
was poisoned to death by his brothers because they want to take over
his properties and wealth.My Mother died after giving birth to me.I am
currently in my secondary school where i stay in their boarding house
for students.
My father left family valuables worth the sum of Two Million United
States Dollars in a security company for me which i want you to stand
as my trustee to claim this from the security company. They contacted
me and informed me that the deposit is due for claim and demand that i
should come forward to claim or send a trustee. I cannot handle this
so i am contacting you to help me as i am too young and cannot follow
the process. I will authorize you to them and they will release the
fund to you.i wait to read from you.Write back to me in my email
Littlecindy18@yahoo.com
Thanks and God bless.
Cindy Pinda
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Anti-fraud resources:
