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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- sharifah.sahabomar@cheerful.com (Cheerful; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Sharifah Omar <sharifah.omarsahab@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 08:59:26 +0000
Subject: Your Kind and urgent reply is needed
Greetings to you
I am writing to you in regards to humanitarian involvement which i would
love to share with you. you might be wondering why i choose you for this.
though i made a random selection which i believe that your fear to Allah
will help in reach the world at large.
I have some money deposited in my name which i would love you to dispatch
to the humanitarian need in your country. i have been in the hospital
because of issues of sickness which the doctor has said will not catch up
life. though i believe in Allah. so all i asked you is to help me to
dispatch this little money to the needy as my next of kin. i am left alone
. no kids though divorced. the money is in the Security Company here with
the amount of $16,858,000 USD.
All i want is your sincerity and trust that you can help me to do the work
of humanitarian so that the bank will not confiscate the money to their
treasury. get back to me soonest for further direction through my
email : *sharifah.sahabomar@cheerful.com
<sharifah.sahabomar@cheerful.com>*
Looking forward to your urgent reply.
Regards
Sharifah Sahab Omar
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Anti-fraud resources:
