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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- amandagumer@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: amanda gumer <gumer_ali1@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: amandagumer@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2012 14:36:27 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hi dear.
Hi dear.
How are you today also with your health and family ? hope
all is well,my name is miss Amanda, I came a cross your profile i
decided to get in touched with you,
actually It is my desire to write
to you as well for us to know each others and share our life style and
experience,we can also be a friends,for more introduction please i will
like you to reply to me in my email
( amandagumer@yahoo.co.uk ) so
that i will send my pictures to you also to explain the my motives of
writing to you please i will very happy to read from you
thank you
yours
Amanda
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Anti-fraud resources:
