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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "CLARA SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <clarasmith1988@live.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:09:39 -0800
Subject: MY EMAIL
Dear Sir/Madam
I have an investment proposal for you if you don't like it kindly delete
it.
My father was a Gold Machant before he died in one of his trip in France,
It happened that before my father died he called his secretary ho accompanied
him to Hospital and told her that he willed 114 Kg of Gold for me as an
inheritance .
Sorry to say this to you, I have a step brother who is drug addict he has sold
all my late father's properties and use the money for his drug activities since
my father died.
Please I seek your indulgence to help me to ship the gold out of Ghana where I
will sale the Gold and invest the fund into a profitable business in your
Country,
kindly tell me about your Country Tax and economy
You reply is highly needed. If you are intrested get back to me with your
details
With Sincere
Clara Smith
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Anti-fraud resources:
