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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- goldensongldmrgn@aol.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.GOLDENSON MORGAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <goldensongldmrgn@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:11:25 +0100
Subject: Trustees and Executor of Estate Beneficiary.
Trustees and Executor of Eng.Marcello Estate Beneficiary.
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engineer. Marcello Moreno,We once again try to notify you as our earlier
letter was returned undelivered,we wish to notify you that late Engineer.Marcello Moreno made you a beneficiary to his WILL.He left
the sum of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD$4,500.000.00) in your name in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL.
This may sound strange and unbelievable but it is real and true,being a widely travelled man he must have been in contact with you in the past
or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engineer.Marcello Moreno until his death was a
member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers.According to him this money is to support your humanitarian
activities and to help the poor and the needy.
Please if we reach you as we're hopeful,endeavor to get back to this office as soon as possible to enable us conclude our job,we hope to hear from
you in no distant time and you are advice to contact me with my personal email address:goldensongldmrgn@aol.com
MR.GOLDENSON MORGAN.
goldensongldmrgn@aol.com
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Anti-fraud resources: