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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:
- "required fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Nelson Mike <nelsonmikky55@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: nelsonbobby39@yahoo.es
Date: Sat, 11 May 2013 00:09:23 +0200
Subject: Can i trust you?
Hello Sir, My Name is Mike Nelson , I understand you are expecting
your delayed fund to be wired to you but the people like REV MORGAN
BRIGGS, DR. ONUOHA and others handling your transfer are not ready and
will not tell you the truth about the where about of your fund and
all they are doing is to tell me to divert the fund to somewhere in
Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea because they feel you refused to come up with
the required fee but I will not do that based on my conscience and
that is why I have contacted you to let know because i know you have
gone far in trying to get this fund.
I will be ready to help you get your fund but you have to help me keep
a secret to enable me help you in getting you in delivering your fund
as the Remittance officer. You better believe me or forget contacting
me again but I know that they will never tell you the truth.Get back
to me and i will tell you the possible way to get your fund delivered
to you without the consent of anyone because i know you will reward me
after all.
But I will advise you not to pay the money because you has spent money
and I believe you do not have enough now. And do not tell any body
about this even REV MORGAN BRIGGS. Because he knows about it all. if
you need my help just write me and keep my email to yourself. do not
tell any body.
i have more information for you.
I will expect your prompt response.
Regards.
Mike Nelson
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