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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Safia Gaddafi." <safiafarkashgg@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: safiafarkashg@w.cn
Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 12:24:24 -0100 (GMT+1)
Subject: CAN YOU HELP ME?
Greetings
I am the wife of the late Libyan president Gaddafi who was killed
by rebels on Thursday 20th Oct 2011, please my life is in big danger and I
would like to use you as my contact to move a huge some of money and start
living a free life in your country. for I have been on veils as a Muslim
since he married me, which is our religious rights, nobody has seen my
face or known me except my children and himself and I thank Allah for
this.
I cannot be identified by anybody in the world now that things has gone
bad. Am taking refuge in Algeria. I and my children can't go back to Libya
for now.We are afraid that our life could be in danger in Libya.The death
of my husband was a broad day murder by the Libya rebel.
He was captured and was killed not by stray bullet as the world was made
to believe.
I want to relocate to your country,to start up a new life. I have some
money in my possession which i will like to invest in any profitable
business in your country. I want you to guard me through the business I
will invest. I will reward with 20 percent of the total money.
Kindly get back to me with my e-mail Address:
Please,I will give you more information as soon as I hear from.
Waiting to hear from you.
Mrs. Safia Gaddafi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
