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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Elizabeth Walker <elizabethwalker9551@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Elizabeth Walker <elizabethwalker95@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:26:23 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Peace be unto you
Tokoin National Hospital
Surgical and Medical Facilities
16 BP Lome Republic of Togo
Peace be unto you
I wish you and your family happy moments of life now and forever more amen.Please, I do not have formal relationship with you but because of my present predicament and circumstances I am made to contact you.I have been suffering from cancer and have a short life to leave.I have made up my mind to donate my inheritance of 5.2 million USD to the less previledged please help me to fulfil my last wish.
Thanks
Mrs. Elizabeth Walker
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Anti-fraud resources:
