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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:
- "million 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: "El thompson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elthopmson@telugu.ws>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 00:22:21 -0000
Subject: Esteemed compliments
Esteemed compliments,
I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to Honor against your will. I am 48 year of age, and work with a Security Company. Here in this Company existed a Truck Box containing valuables (Gold and Diamond Jewelry) worth (US$ 4.750 Million US Dollars).Four Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars. I will need your help to ship this truck box to your country. Do not ask me how this will work but believe me it is my field and with my position in the Company everything will work-out successfully.
Your Name:
Your Contact Address:
Your Occupation:
Telephone No:
Private Email:
If you are interested do send me the above information through my direct email elthopmson@telugu.ws so that i will give you more information on this subject.Please only reply me back through this email elthopmson@telugu.ws
Dr. El Thompson
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Anti-fraud resources:
