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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MOORE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrewmore2001@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:16:22 -0000
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR ACCEPTANCE LATER
Dear Friend,
How has it been with you lately and hope all is going well with you?
I write to inform you of the inheritance of a late who happened to be one of our customer here at my bank here in london.
I am contacting you because you bear the surname identity of the deceased and therefore, I can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance.
I therefore reckon that you can receive this fund as you are qualified by your name identity with him. All the legal papers will be processed on your acceptance.
In the light of the above, I request that you kindly forward to me your letter of acceptance;your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file the necessary documents at the High Court Probate Division for the release of this sum of money to you.
Hope to hear from you soon again.
Regards,
Andrew Moore
ENSTIVIMNLRSHTUGLGIJLWEGOLWPVTPZBZGQKG
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Anti-fraud resources: