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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million pounds" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "bahatifisher@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Fisher" <bfhhh@live.com>
Reply-To: bahatifisher@yahoo.cn
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:53:06 +0800
Subject: humanitarian purpose
Hello dear friend
my name is Bahati Fisher undergoing medical treatment in Coronation Hospital,
Johannesburg S.Africa. i am married to Dr. Gray Fisher who worked with
british judical commission in england.we were married for fifteen years
without a child. before his death on the 5th of july 2006.he made a vow to
use his wealth for the less privileged.he deposited the sum of 3.5 million
pounds with one security company in europe.presently, his money is still with
the company.recently, my doctor told me that i will not last for the next 4
months due to a rare form of cancer of the pancreas but what disturbs me most
is my stroke.i have decided to donate this funds to a god fearing person who
will utilise it as my husband wished. please respond to my email. My personal
email is [ bahatifisher@yahoo.cn ].please take note and send your reply only
through it.
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Anti-fraud resources:
