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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "johnlee20013@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "John Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnlee20013@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 03:44:55 +0800
Subject: Please i need your urgent response;
Hello,
I’m sending you this mail to ask if you are able to stand and receive $9,045,000.00 in your
account with your name in your country without any problem if it’s been wire from Malaysia to
you as the next of kin?
This is telegraphic transfer system and doesn’t need any documents before remittance.
I’m a Bank casher /accountant and I can make it up my Bank I work with will agree to transfer
the money to you as next of kin to the funds. And you will receive the money within few days.
What I need from you is your full co operation trust and honestly truth. I need your quick
response.
This is 100% risk free and bank will have knowledge and cannot trace it if the funds move out
of the country you as the next of kin.
Please if you are interested kindly send the require details of yourself below, they are to fill the
form to claim the funds and other requirement like identity would be covered up by me but I
need your identity to enable me know who I am dealing with ok.
Full names of beneficiary……………………….Contact
Address………………………..Email………………….Country………………………..
Occupation……………….Nationality………………………Age,
sex…………………………marital status………………………………
Phone#...................................
Once I received your details I will immediately process the documentation that will put you in
place as next of kin to the funds here in Malaysia.
Do contact me via my email address: johnlee20013@gala.net
Yours faithfully,
John lee.
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Anti-fraud resources:
