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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Maria.E " <mariaezeh@yandex.com>
Reply-To: msmariaezeh@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2019 04:32:16 +0800
Subject: Bls:Urgent Respond to proceed
I am compelled to write you this email for reasons of great business importance. I Agent with EM Solicitors and personal attorney & adviser to your late relative Mr.Mark, who left some large amount of money (2.5MUSD) with the bank here before
his death in 2012.
As his personal attorney & adviser, I have made several inquiries as directed by the bank with a view to locate you so as to present you as the Next of Kin and beneficiary and of course claim his entitlement. hence I contacted you so that the
process of claim of the fund deposited can be handed over to you.
Please note that the fund shall be divided 50/50 between you and I,once it gets into your account according to my plan,Your earliest response to this email will be highly appreciated.
Px
Regards
Ms. Maria Ezeh
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Anti-fraud resources: