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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Roger Hess" <roger.hess1965@gmail.com>
Reply-To: rogerhess1965@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2016 23:06:07 -0500
Subject: ATTENTION - PLEASE REPLY ASAP !!!
Good day Sir/ Madam
Sending this mail to you still amaze me because i have not met you in pers=
on, but i believe its a matter of choice and if you feel we can
share this dream and secure this transaction for our future the. My name is=
ROGER HESS and i manage the contract Fund affairs department
of NATIONAL OIL WELL VERCO Canada.
I propose to have a contract deal with you involving $10 million which I o=
ver invoiced at the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2015.
This money is now floating without claim at the contractors payee bank acc=
ount. I am contacting you because i cant no claim this fund alone
and i need to present a trusted person who will work with me and claim this=
fund.
I have decided that i take 6 million dollars and you will take 4 million d=
ollars as a sharing ratio if you have the potential to work with me. =
I will stop here and please if you feel you cant handle this please not re=
spond OK. I will give you more details when you show interest. =
Also send your contact details and occupation so that i will get to you im=
mediately.
Regards,
Roger Hess
=20
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Anti-fraud resources:
