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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.
- 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:
- "million dollars" (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 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.
- salemosman03@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Salem Osman <awennagel@iprimus.com.au>
Reply-To: salemosman06@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:25:16 +0100
Subject: PLEASE I REALLY NEED YOUR TRUST AND SINCERITY!
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Hello,
Good day to you and your entire family. I know this letter might
surprise you, Please I don't want you to ignore it as I am writing this
letter to you with deep pains and great sorrow in my heart because i
only have short time to live according to my doctor. Base on this
predicament, I have now decided to spread the rest of my wealth I have
with a financial security firm abroad,to contribute mainly to the
development of charity homes and the less previlage in the society.
Please i need a trustworthy and a kind hearted person who will use the
money ($8 Million Dollars) to build an orphanage home or charity
organization in your location as i want this to be the last good deed i
do on earth before i departed. Please do kindly get back to me with
trust and sincerity that you will help me on this regards. Here is my
personal mail box: salemosman03@hotmail.com
May peace be with you.
Salem Osman
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Anti-fraud resources:
