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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:
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MELISSA DAVID" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmeldavidd@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2019 18:02:42 +0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE !!!
Greetings
I am desperately in need of your assistance as I have summoned up courage to contact you.I am presently in Kabul Afghan Capital. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $7.5m to you; as far as I can be assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.
My proposal to you is, if you are willing to help me you will be entitled to 30% of this fund in the end ; Once again, I confide strictly in you and appeal that you
keep this topmost secret for security reason. I assure you that this deal is 100% risk free. As far as I can be assured that my money will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.
AS I have been lucky to survive two suicide bomb attacks by Pure Divine intervention. This and other reasons put into consideration have prompted me to reach out for help. If it might be of interest to you then Endeavor to contact me and we would work out the necessary formalities but I pray that you are discreet about this mutually benefiting relationship.
Yours sincerely
MELISSA DAVID
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Anti-fraud resources:
