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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 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: Emily Alba <emilyalba00101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: emilyalba0011@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2020 09:49:44 +0000
Subject: Mrs.Emily Alba
Greetings Dear
I am Mrs.Emily Alba from Israel. I am a missionary but right now in a
hospital bed in Israel. I am 59 years and childless; my husband is
dead. I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. And my doctor just
predicted that I have but very limited time to live due to damages in
my system and as a result of that i decided to dispose my 10.5 million
US dollars to a God fearing one for the continuation of charitable
work. This is why i located you. My guess about you may not be
accurate because i came across your contact at the humanitarian
calendar event of the year but i believe in God who divinely directed
me to you for this solemn proposal of charitable work. Therefore I
wholeheartedly wish to bequeath my fortune to you as a God fearing
person for the continuation of charitable work anywhere around the
world.
If you may be willing to carry out the charitable work, please reply
me immediately and i will gladly disclose about the release of the
money.
I am in pains now due to my illness and i will appreciate your urgent
reply or opinion.
May God bless you as i expect your quick response.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Emily Alba
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Anti-fraud resources:
