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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mike Liang <mikeliangconsult99@att.net>
Reply-To: mikeliangconsult1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:56:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Thanks
Hello friend,
I seek your consent to present you as the next-of- kin and beneficiary of my late client inheritance funds worth TEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS,he died years back without a will or next of kin.All legal documents to back up your claim as my clients next-of-kin will be provided to enable the bank release the funds to you as the next of kin and sole beneficiary. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.Your response is needed.
Mike Liang
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Anti-fraud resources:
