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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:
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Irene George" <webinfo404@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: irene.george2@rogers.com
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 17:42:46 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED
Compliment of the season. I am Mrs.Irene George, the Chairman Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (Republic of Ghana). I having a profitable transaction I would like to transact with you. I am having a secret deposit of US$11,900,000.00 (Eleven Million Nine Hundred Thousand US Dollars) only with a Bank here in Ghana. I made this (Funds) Money from the Landing Commission during our last Government tenor NPP. I would like to transfer this Money into your personal Account in your Country for my Investment. If you would like to assist me, get back to me so that we will talk about the Percentage ratio and discuses more for our better understanding.
Thanks,Mrs.Irene George.
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Anti-fraud resources: