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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 united states 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)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Engr.Martins Akosombo\(Ghana Ministry of Energy\)" <lilesong1077@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: makosombo@rediffmail.com
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 08:28:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: May I have your consent to this.
Engr.Martins Akosombo.
Ministry of Energy.
Plot 2008 Castle Road.
Osu,Accra Ghana.
Greetings to you.
I am Engineer Martins Akosombo,a Director of the Contracts Award and Review Department with the Ghana Ministry of Energy (M.O.E).I have a befitting business dealing from the above named Ministry worth multiple Million United States Dollars for you.
But first and fore-most,I will appreciate having your consent to it,thereafter I will intimate you with the full details.Be rest assured the business is 100% risk-free.Your urgent expression of interest will be appreciated.Above all,do accept the best of my personal assurance and thank you for your time.
Thanks.
Engr.Martins Akosombo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
