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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: vida kuzman <vidakuzman18@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2022 08:44:25 +0000
Subject: LETTER FROM HOSPITAL
I am Mrs. Vida Kuzman from the United States living in Côte D'Ivoire,
I am a widow without a child suffering from a longstanding illness
(cancer and kidney damage). Total of ($2,500,000.00) I need an honest
and faithful person who can use these funds for human work. 70% of
these funds for orphanages, schools and widows, spreading the word and
other humanitarian works. The remaining 30% should be yours for your
efforts as a new beneficiary. Please reply me if you could use these
funds for humanitarian work. Once I have received your reply I will
give you further instructions on how to proceed with the claims of the
said funds.
Stay blessed.
Mrs Vida Kuzman
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Anti-fraud resources:
