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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- mariamanuelasebastiaokwaba101@seznam.cz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mariamanuela sebastiaokwaba <mariamanuelasebastiaokwabaoi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mariamanuelasebastiaokwaba084@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2016 21:39:40 -0800
Subject: Expecting you Respond
Dear Sir/Madam
I am Mrs.Maria Manuela I have a deposit valued at $6.5 million which
Recently, I decided to donate this fund to either an organization or
devoted individual that will utilize this money the way I will
instruct herein. As soon as I receive your reply on
Email:mariamanuelasebastiaokwaba101@seznam.cz my delay in your reply
will give room in sourcing for another organization
or a devoted Individual for this same purpose. Until I hear from you
by email, my dreams will rest squarely on your Shoulders.May God's
blessings be with you in all your daily endeavors.
May God bless you and your family keeps you and sees you through in
all you strive and human endeavors.
Regards
Mrs.Maria Manuela
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Anti-fraud resources:
