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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Femi Samson" <tstewart@semo.net>
Reply-To: femisamson360@gmail.com
Date: 22 Jun 2021 11:01:58 +0100
Subject: Please I need your help.
Greetings With all due respect Sir/Ma'am
My name is Femi Samson, I humbly seek for your financial
assistance. My Mother had severe heart attack last week and
doctors have asked for the open heart surgery. I am the only
person who is earning in my family. The doctors have given us an
estimated hospital bill of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the
surgery and have asked us to deposit sum of one thousand and five
hundred dollars ($1,500) as his condition requires immediate
operation . I am in a miserable condition right now; not knowing
whom I will run to for financial assistance. I shall forever
remain grateful! I shall be really thankful for this act of
kindness, We pray God to reward you abundantly as you support us.
No amount is small. God loves a cheerful giver.
Many thanks and looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Femi Samson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
