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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "time is not on my side" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dr.sussan@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR SUSSAN HARRISON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <DR.SUSSAN@live.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 22:40:33 +0200
Subject: need your assistance
DEAR SIR,
MY NAME IS MISS. SUSAN HARRISON
I got your esteemed contact during my comprehensive research for a
reliable and trustworthy individual in your country
I will need your help in this situation I find myself. Am really afraid and don't know whom to
confide in. I am a medical doctor working with NATO currently in Libya. I have some money I made
in Gaddafi compound. I have kept it as secret for a little while and I need someone I can
trust to work and transfer this money out of Libya as a medical documents.
Please I will need your help on this for I can forfeit 20 percent of this money to make
sure is safely used for me until I will be living the army next year. Please I will need
to work with you in getting this money out of Libya, Get back to me and I will make
the arrangement on how to get this done. I have no one to confide in, I joined the army
as an orphan and don't have someone to confide in I believe you will be of helpful
to me. I will be reviling the said amount immediately you give me your word of
confidence to go ahead for this is a very huge amount of money
CONTACT EMAIL. { DR.SUSSAN@LIVE.COM }
Expecting your reply soonest for time is not on my side,
Best Regards
Col Dr SUSAN HARRISON.
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Anti-fraud resources:
