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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "WRAGG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wraggassoc@aol.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2017 22:01:42 -0800
Subject: WIL1017/WRA01/RAY17.
Sequel to your non response to my earlier letter to you on behalf of the Trustee & Executor to the Will of my client. I wish to inform you that you are receiving this Letter not by error but to partner with you and my client sum which is about to be confiscated due to his death and unavailability to claim the sum he deposited with an offshore Bank to avoid paying a huge Tax. You can be listed as a beneficiary to the sum of $9,500,000.00 USD (Nine million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) being that I have an Irreversible Power of Attorney that was given to me by my Client the above sum will be shared on a legally agreeable % between the both us as we partner together to claim this fortune. I therefore reckoned that you can receive this sum as I can guarantee your right and legal qualification to claim this by same last name identity. For more details on legal explanations in regards to the procedure of claiming this Fortune, I advise you either contact me via Fax or Email and Reference the Subject with below
Fax: 4420 0333 2067.
Email: wragg@wraggassociates.co.uk
Sam M Kelsall
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Anti-fraud resources:
