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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Susann <mailofficial71@gmail.com>
Reply-To: susan.akii@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2023 03:01:48 -0700
Subject: Dear Greetings to you.
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Dear Greetings to you.
I send this message with the greatest hope for urgent response given
my terrible current health status, I will have to undergo a second
heart surgery with less chance of surviving again. But before going
for the dangerous second operation, I would like to give you
($2,550,000)
I have in my bank account so that you invest and manage it well and
use the profits to carry out charitable project in my name to help
the sick and the poor as my last wish on earth because I have no one
to inherit this money if i die.
Please I am waiting for your urgent reply
Best Regards,
Mrs. Susan
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Anti-fraud resources:
