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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (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: "Ms. Clara Ahmed." <mrsclaraouedrago@gmail.com>
Reply-To: msclaraahmed05@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2021 02:35:31 -0700
Subject: My Dearest I Bring Peace And Love To You From Our Almighty ALLAH.
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My Dear I Came Across Your Contact During My Private Search Here In
The Hospital Respond If You Are Interested.
My Name Is Clara Ahmed Am From Saudi Arabia And My Husband Is No More
Late Dr. Walid Ahmed, Please I Decided To Contact You Due To My Health
Condition I Have Breast Cancer Diagnosis Please I Need Your Prayers.
The Doctors Informed Me Yesterday That I Have Only Few Days To Live
Because Of The Stage Of My Sickness Problem, I Want To Transfer My
Late Husband Funds $15.6 Fifteen Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars
Only Into Your Account Because Of My Health Condition Now I Cant Do
Anything So I Have Decided To Donate You This Funds.
Which He Asked Me To Use To Build Homes For The Less Privileged
Orphans I Want You To Use 60% Of This Fund For The Project Of Building
Homes And Taking Care Of The Less Privileged And Orphans The In Your
Country.
Am Waiting For Your Urgent Response For More Details And Remain
Blessed In The Name Of The Almighty.
Best Regards,
Ms. Clara Ahmed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
