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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Suzara Maling Wan <westernunionpromoaward@gmail.com>
Reply-To: suzara.wan2020@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2021 02:36:45 -0700
Subject: Hello
--
My names are Mrs Suzara Maling Wan, I am a Nationality of the Republic
of the Philippine presently base in West Africa B/F, dealing with
exportation of Gold, I was diagnose of blood Causal decease, and my
doctor have announce to me that I have few days to leave due to the
condition of my sickness.
I have a desire to build an orphanage home in your country of which i
cannot execute the project myself due to my present health condition,
I am willing to hand over the project under your care for you to help
me fulfill my dreams and desire of building an orphanage home in your
country.
Reply in you are will to help so that I can direct you to my bank for
the urgent transfer of the fund/money require for the project to your
account as I have already made the fund/money available.
With kind regards
Mrs Suzara Maling Wan
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Anti-fraud resources: