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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 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)
- "rev0147@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Elizabeth Walker" <ayas@travel-net.com>
Reply-To: rev0147@live.com
Date: 14 Sep 2011 17:50:15 -0400
Subject: Hello
Hello,
Greetings to You. My name is Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, I am 59 years old
and I was diagnosed for cancer two years ago. I will be going in for an
operation later today.I decided to WILL/donate the sum of(Fourteen Million
Dollars) to you for the good work of the lord please Contact my Pastor with
the information below
Name: Andy Caldwell
Email: rev0147@live.com
Tell him that I have WILLED 14 Million USD to you by quoting my personal
reference number LLP/953/900//316US/UK.
As soon as you contact him with this details quoted above, he should be
able to recognize you and help in claiming this amount from my Bank.
Meanwhile you are advised to keep this mail and it contents confidential as
i really want my wish accomplish at the end of the day.Please do pray to
God for my recovery. My friend please do not send me any email as i wount
be able to reply your mail.You are to send my pastor an email directly.
God Bless you
Regards,
Elizabeth Walker.
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Anti-fraud resources:
