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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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: Suriya Jungrungreangkit <jungrungreangkit_suriya@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: suriyajungrungreangkit@ibibo.com
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:39:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Attn: The Beneficiary!
Attn: The Beneficiary!
Thanks very much for your mail. As I told you before the fastest way you can receive your part-payment valued $6.8M (Six Million Eight hundred thousand US Dollars) is through Courier Cargo Delivery to your address.
My Dear Friend, I wish to state to you that this is the best means we can use for us to achieve this together.I have inquired from a trusted Courier staff who will device some means to packaged and parcel these money with the documents of claim attached as {Film Materials}.
I appeal to you seriously for your corporation to move these money to your address if you will work with me in honesty and sincerity.This Courier Staff is a professional who knows his job very well he has been a Courier Staff for 12 years.
Therefore,if you are okay with this method please strictly reply back so that I commence on the delivery process.
I awaited your positive response.
Best Regards.
Suriya.
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Anti-fraud resources:
