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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM MRS.SUSAN SHABANGU" <sshabangu80ms@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sshabangu80msq@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 23:12:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME
MINISTER OF MINING
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Dear Sir/Madam
First, let me start by introducing myself as Mrs. Susan Shabangu, a mother of three children and the Minister of Mining since 29th April 1996 to date under the auspices of the president of South Africa Mr.
Thabo Mbeki.
After due deliberation with my children, I decided to contact you for your assistance in standing as a beneficiary to the sum of US$30.5m (Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only)
you can view my profile at my website (www.info.gov.za/gol/gcis_profile.jsp?id=1066 )
Yours faithfully,
MRS. SUSAN SHABANGU
Minister of Mining of the
Republic of South Africa since May 2009
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Anti-fraud resources:
