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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mrs.sadre1@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Sadre Sheikh Jabi" <mrs.sadre1@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:09:32 +0200
Subject: ( I am giving you this funds for donation )
Dear.
I am Mrs. Sadre Sheikh Jabir, a citizen of Kuwait but currently admitted in the hospital here in London UK for my health treatment for Cancer and Fibroid. I sent you an email before but didn't get your reply. I am contacting you to help me carry out a donation program within your community and help the needy around you because my doctor told me that I will be having an operation within some days from today and I might not survive it after the operation. On this condition, I have decided to make a donation of 3.5 Million to you to carry out my wish to help the needy. Please, as soon as you reply me because there is no time, I will inform my lawyer to contact you as my beneficiary to whom I want the fixed funds with Royal bank of Scotland will be transferred to.
I want you to always pray for me. Until I hear from you. Reply me through this email ( mrs.sadre1@sify.com )
Remain blessed,
Mrs. Sadre Sheikh Jabi
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Anti-fraud resources:
