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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (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: "Master Steve Walker" <offfile1010@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: stevewalker@vf.vc
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:59:16 +1000
Subject: I am humble seeking for your sincere assistance
Dear Respectful One,
Greetings from Republic of Benin, my name is Master Steve Walker, I am
21yrs old and an orphan child. I am writing this letter to you with tears
of sorrows, I am humble seeking for your sincere assistance to transfer my
inheritance money USD$9.6Million (Nine Million Six Hundred thousand United
States Dollars) to your country for investment purpose.
I am under-graduate and I don’t have any experience in banking and
international businesses. The death of my father brought a lot of sorrow
to my life and I have suffered a lot of setbacks and humiliation here in
Republic of Benin due to the political crisis going now in the country.
As a matter of fact I want to transfer my inheritance money to your
country for investment purpose, meanwhile after the transfer I will come
over to your country to continue my education and to start a new life
together with you and your family. Please I want to ask you these
questions:
1. Can I completely trust you?
2. Can you assist me from the bottom of your heart?
3. Can you accept me to be a member of your family?
I am willing to offer you 10% of the total sum after the transfer of the
money to your country.Please consider this transaction legal and get back
to me through my e-mail address: ( stevewalker@vf.vc )
As soon as I receive your response I will give you more details.
Thanks and god bless.
Yours Sincerely,
Master Steve Walker
Address: Porto Novo
Republic of Benin
Email: stevewalker@vf.vc
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Anti-fraud resources:
