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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "huge amount of money" (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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- wazid.hamid@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "HAMID WAZID" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hwazid@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 12:05:47 +0400
Subject: GOOD DAY
GOOD DAY,
For your kind attention, I need your help in transferring some huge amount of money to your private account. This money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim. I want to release the money to you as the beneficiary to our deceased customer (the account owner) who died along with her family some time ago by showing your interest I will send you the full details on how the business will be concluded.
Please reply urgently with this email address wazid.hamid@yahoo.com if you are interested.
Best wishes to you..
Mr. Hamid Wazid.
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Anti-fraud resources:
