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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "From Ms. Aelen Steve" <m_j12@cptelnet.com>
Reply-To: msaelensteve@rediffmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:01:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Ms. Aelen Steve
>From Ms. Aelen Steve
Dear,
I am introducing my self as Miss. Aelen Steve, the only
Doughter of late Chief and Mrs Deborah Steve I wish to request
for your assistance in a financial transaction. I got your contact from a member of this your site , And I wish to invest in Manufacturing and real estate management in your country. Or any lucrative business you know more better
I have Eight million Five houndred thousand united states
dollars.USD($8.500,000) to invest in your country, and I will require your assistance in receiving the money in your country for investment purpose.I will be glad to give you 10% out of the total sum for your assistance.Please it is very important you contact me immediately for further explanation on how we will proceed.waiting your immediate response.
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards
Miss.Aelen Steve
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Anti-fraud resources:
