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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- merrymerry16@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Merry Merry <rose4u_akubia@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: merrymerry16@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 06:52:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello MY Dear friend
Hello MY Dear friend
It is nice and joyful to find your profile here
today.How are you,I thought is beautiful to make you a friend in this
regard.My name is Merry Benson And my Email is(merrymerry16@yahoo.com)I
am a female. My friends tell me that I am a quiet person with a good
sense of humor.I am always fair, straightforward, honest and easy going
and I seek trust worthy friendship. I believe in giving and taking on
both sides and i value faithfulness.I like people for what they are and
not for what they are not.Please I want to be your friend, and let share
whatever we have in friendship, I will Like you to write back to my
Email Address so that o will explain More about me:And send to you a
picture of myself,
Find my profile;
Height: 174 cm 5' 7
Weight: 60 kg 148 lbs
Waist: 24"
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Marital Status: Single
Kids: No kids
Languages spoken: Fluent English
Return email to my id:(merrymerry16@yahoo.com)
Yours truly
Merry
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Anti-fraud resources:
