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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Jane Karpov" <lorenza.riberto@fastwebnet.it>
Reply-To: Jane_Karpov@admin.in.th
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:52:30 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Mrs.Jane Karpov
My Name is Mrs
.Jane Karpov, I am married to late Dr. Yuri Karpov who was an
Oil Merchant and international businessman before he died in the year 2001
after a brief illness that lasted for only five days. Before the Untimely
death of my husband we were both born again Christians. When my late husband
was Alive he deposited the sum of ($18,000,000.00 USD) with a Bank in UK
whose name is withheld Until we open up communication. Following my ill
health, my Doctor told me that i may not last for the next Couple Of Months
due to My cancer problem. the one that disturbs me most is my inability to
move Around and Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a
God fearing Person that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein, according to the desire of my late husband Before his
death.I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly
Way. I am not afraid of death Hence I know where I am going. I know that I am
going to be in the Bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord
will fight my case and I shall hold my peace".
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Anti-fraud resources:
