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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Samuel Kohn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <samuelkohn@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:22:56 -0500
Subject: Shadow Shopper Wanted
We need a Shadow Shopper in your area,$250 dollars for 2-hours of your opinions
on each evaluation per week.You'll be paid to evaluate shops,Banks and dine out-plus,
Free merchandise,free Entertainment.Great Pay. Fun Work.Flexible Schedules.
If you can shop-you are qualified.No Fee is required to be our Mystery Shopper.
For more information send an Email to: samuelkohn@gala.net
Sincerely.
Samuel Kohn
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Anti-fraud resources:
