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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 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Susan Owusu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <susanowusu2@cc.tc>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 16:26:47 +0400
Subject: YOU AND I,
Hello Dear.
My Name is Susan Owusu. I am Sudanese living in Ghana on exile. My
late father was a gold and petroleum dealer. Sir i really need your help. My
father kept an amount of 7.5 million dollars and about 60kg of Gold Dust in a
security vault and all I need is someone who can present himself as my foreign
beneficiary\investment manager or someone who that i can trust who will marry
me to sign for the release of the money.because i am single looking for a God fearing man.
I have decided to give you 20% percent as your commission if
you agree to assist me .Upon your acceptance I will ask my lawyer to
prepare AN AGREEMENT FOR YOU AND I WHICH WILL BE SIGNED upon your arrival.
My dear like I told you I am on exile and I want you to keep this transaction confidential behold i
have received good news about you and i think i can trust you. In you response also indicates to
me when you are coming. Hoping to hear from you soon. Please
Yours faithfully
Ms Susan
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Anti-fraud resources:
