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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)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR GORDON G CAMPBELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gordongcampbell@lawyer.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:32:03 +0100
Subject: YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED!
Dear Friend
After five years of waiting the crown (British government) has given me the power to contact you so that you become the beneficiary to total amount 15,000,000.00 GBP in the intent of the deceased who died without a will.
I am contacting you because I believe you are related. Please if you are interested respond immediately with your full names, physical address and cell number.
Yours Truly,
Barr Gordon G Campbell
DISCLAIMER:
This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of Veeda Clinical Research. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the system manager. You should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail and remove all copies from your email and backup system.
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Anti-fraud resources:
