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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:
- "00,000.00" (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: Valeria Benjamin <v.apecim@gmail.com>
Reply-To: valeria.benjamin@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:11:09 -0700
Subject: Hello my Beloved One,
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Hello,
My name is Valeria Benjamin. I am a 21 year old girl and I am single.
Due to the political crisis in our country, I lost my parents and I am
now an orphan. My late parents left a legacy of 15.700,000.00 USD on
deposit with an overseas bank and I am the only next of kin to inherit
the money. My parents died leaving me with no one to look after me. I
am contacting you so you can be my guardian and help me invest the
money wisely in a good business in your country.
I will not be able to manage this money because I have no business
ideas. Therefore, I want you to be my guardian and partner and help me
with a business ideas in any way you can so we can manage this money
wisely in a good business in your country. The bank is ready to
transfer the money to any person I have chosen as a guardian and
partner. Please I want you to help me invest this money wisely in a
good business in your country. I will offer you 10% of the total fund
for your help, and you will partner with me to invest the remaining
90% into a good business in your country. We will share the annual
profits you will get from the business 50/50.
Please let me know if you are interested so that I can give you more
information about myself and the money. I will like to convey my
warmest greetings to you and your family as I wait for your response.
I am waiting to hear from you.
Please I need your guardian and help.
Have a nice day.
Miss Valeria Benjamin
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Anti-fraud resources:
