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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- fmorad3@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Fatima Morad" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fmorad3@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:23:00 -0000
Subject: MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Assalamu Alaikum,
Although I have never seen you before but I believe that I am doing this for the sake of Islam. Through my prayers and fasting, I had a revelation to work with you by helping the organization. Though, this medium (internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains one of the fastest medium of communication.
I am Aisha Umar; I have a deposit but will not mention the value until I see your seriousness on your returning mail. I have decided to donate this fund to either an organization or devoted individual that will utilize this money the way I will instruct herein.
Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for another organization or a devoted individual for this same purpose. Until I receive your reply on email: fmorad3@gmail.com
May Allah’s blessings be with you in all your daily endeavors, Ameen.
Mrs. Fatima Morad.
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Anti-fraud resources:
