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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "your loan " (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sandra Jackson <sjfastloan1@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:35:09 +0100
Subject: LOAN UPDATE.....
Greetings to you.
I will like to know if you did receive my previous email as regards the
funds transfer of your loan. In any business, consistency should be a
watchword.
I guess you also understand my effort to this effect. Your processed
transaction keeps other costumer's file pending and I will like to know what
is delaying you from getting back to us..
You are advice to reply to this email so as to enable us facilitate the
transfer of your loan and meet up other prospective request. Thanks as I
hope to hear from you soon..
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Anti-fraud resources:
