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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Humanitarian Project <humanitarian101@att.net>
Reply-To: humanitarianproject@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 07:55:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Humanitarian Project
Humanitarian Project
Hello dear, my names are Eide Hans Terje Kristian suffering from Leukemia/Lung Cancer which my doctor has confirmed that days are no longer at my favor due to condition of my health. Knowing my situation, I decided to set a humanitarian project through you which I know that you will not betray the love of God directing me to your hand. Bear in mind that I took this difficult decision as a human being because I have no wife or children that could have inherited this funds (8.4 million Euros). Urgently get back to me with your personal and banking details including your ID so that my doctor's driver will take me to my bank to introduce you officially to their office with your information for them to recognize you as the beneficiary of my deposited funds and establish a communication with you for the transfer of these funds to your account. Your delays answering to this message will create an avenue for me searching for another hand to handle this project
on my behalf.
Best regards
Eide Hans Terje Kristian
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Anti-fraud resources:
