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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Christel Walker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <christlwalker164@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2018 11:20:15 -0000
Subject: HELLO VERY URGENT
Re: Good day dear, my names are Mrs.Christel Walker, my country of origin is the United
kingdom. Am 56 years old and am sending this short message from my sick bed after been
diagnosed with a long term cancer of the breast. From all indication my condition is
really deteriorating, and my doctor has courageously advised that I may not live beyond
the next two months, that the aggression of the cancer has reached a critical stage. Am
in need for a trustworthy and God fearing individual to confide in. I have a fortune
Project I want to entrust into thus persons care. Please respond to me if you will
promise to see that my last wish is been accomplish to the Glory of God and humanity. I
will be waiting to hear from you. God bless you Regards
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Anti-fraud resources:
