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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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Edy Reid" <edy-reid@skymail.mn>
Reply-To: edy.reid@skymail.mn
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:53:38 -0500 (COT)
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Attention: Beneficiary,
I wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the
total sum of US$15 million (Fifteen million United States Dollars
) in the intent of the deceased (name now withheld since this is my second
letter to you).
I contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore I can
present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance since there is
no written “will”. My aim is to present you to my Bank Management as the
Next of Kin to our deceased client. I will guide you all through
the Claim procedure by providing all relevant Information and guiding you
in your decisions and response to the Bank Management. All the
papers will be processed after your acceptance.
In your acceptance of this deal, I request that you kindly forward to me
your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers,
age,occupational status and a forwarding address to enable me submit to
the Bank Management the details as the Next of Kin to the deceased Account
owner.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Edy Reid
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Anti-fraud resources:
