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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:
- 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Patrick Joseph" <mrpatrickjo08@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2021 13:52:14 -0800
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Please kindly forgive me for using this medium to contact you. I Mr.
Patrick Joseph, a banker and Director of Auditing in Africa
Development Bank Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I have a business proposal
worth huge amount of $16.5 Million US Dollars for you. which will
benefit both of us. I request for your urgent assistant to work with
me and pull the fund out from my bank to any of your designated bank
account which you will provide during the exercise. 45/percent will be
your share.No risk involved but keep it as secret.
Acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of my mutual
business endeavor for more details so that i will send you email to
let you know the next steps and procedures.
Thanks,
Mr.Patrick Joseph.
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Anti-fraud resources:
