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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Fatoumata Komara <fatoukomara@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Fatoumata Komara <fatoum.komar@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2017 17:54:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Sir
Dear Sir,
Good day. I pray that my decision to contact you will be given a genuine approval. I am contacting you today based on the fact that i want to establish an investments in your country through your assistance and partnership. I am an orphan as a result of i have no parents. My parents died mysteriously and i am the only next of kin.
I have US$10.5 million dollars that i inherited from my late father. I want to transfer and invest this money in your country through your assistance, partnership, cooperation, and help.
On your full interest and acceptance to work with me regarding this purpose kindly indicate your interest by reply back to me so that I will give you more details about me and my purpose of contacting you for this purpose. Secondly, I will offer you 20% of the money for your help. You will invest the remaining 80% in a good and profitable investment and we will share the annual benefits of the investments 40% for you and 60% for me
May God bless you for your prompt attention. My best and Lovely Regards to you and all your family as you contact me for more details
I need your urgent response for more details.
Thanks
Miss Fatoumata Komara
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Anti-fraud resources:
