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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Chris Naidoo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cnaidoo1@fastmail.fm>
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:47:53 +0100
Subject: For your Information
Good day,
I am Chris Naidoo Investment Portfolio Manager at Metropolitan Asset Managers. I am independently contacting you in regards to a fixed investment account balance under our foreign investment banking.
Since it is mandatory for our investment institution to notify the beneficiary/successor to this investment; I have contacted you since you share the same last name as the investment deposit. More so, with the entire information available to me you will be put forward as the successor of the investment hence remittance is made in your favor.
On your earliest reply, details and investment documents will be brought to your reference. Hoping we can be together in one accord, therefore act swiftly on this. I can be reached on naidooch1(at)fastmail.fm. I look forward to a successful working relationship.
With kind regards,
Chris Naidoo.
Investment Portfolio Manager
Metropolitan Asset Managers
Website: metam.co.za
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Anti-fraud resources:
