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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge deposit" (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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- mr.richardwilson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: richard wilson <mr.richardwilson@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:38:52 +0000
Subject: Dear ,
Dear ,
I know this Letter will come to you as a surprise, though I
do not intend to embarrass you. Let me start by formally introducing My
self to you. I am Richard Wilson a personal attorney to Mr. Alexander, a
nationality of your country who died in tragic motor accident by
running into a stationery Trailer.I am contacting you to assist retrieve
his huge deposit of US$10.5Million left in the bank before its get
confiscated by the bank.l wait to hear from you and l will give you more
details
I look forward to here from you
Get back to me at my private email for more details (mr.richardwilson@hotmail.com)
Richard Wilson (Esq.)
Virgin law firm.
The island of Lome.
Togo
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Anti-fraud resources:
