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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.
- This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Ehab Elbalawi <ehababala3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ehalblbala3@live.com
Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:14:36 -0500
Subject: GOD BLESS AS YOU READ
Dear Beloved
I am sorry to disturb you but i feel deeply in my heart that you are
that individual that i have been seeking hence my contact to you for a
blessing that you are about to recieve and also share with people.
My name is Mr. Ehab Elbalawi a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have
been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which has defiled all forms of
medical treatment. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul
so,I have decided to give aims to charity organizations,as I want this
to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.please get back to me
for full Details.
Thank you
Ehab Elbalawi
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Anti-fraud resources:
