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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:
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Henry Joseph" <officee649@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Dr.Henry Joseph" <hamzajoe101@barid.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 01:03:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Compensation fund.
Your over due Inheritance compensation fund which we are agreed to pay you in fiscal cash, and the fund is already sealed and package with a security proof box the sum of $6.7 millions usd, and your package is successfully arrived at Orlando International Airport Florida, convey by Int'l diplomatic agent Mr.Hamza Joe. Do contact him on how he will get to your door step. Reply him with your postal address and your current phone number,
Best Regard's
Dr.Henry Joseph
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Anti-fraud resources:
