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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:
- "safia_gadafi1@9.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Safia Gadafi" <mrs.safiagadafi@att.net>
Reply-To: safia_gadafi1@9.cn
Date: 13 Jul 2012 23:10:44 -0000
Subject: GOODDAY
Greetings in the name of Allah,
am the wife of the late Libyan president Gaddafi, who was killed by rebels
on Thursday 20th Oct 2011, my life is in big danger and I would like to use
you as my contact to move a huge some of money and start living a free life
in your country. Am taking refuge in Algeria. I and my children can't go
back to Libya for now.We are afraid that our life could be in danger in
Libya.The death of my husband was a broad day murder by the Libya rebel.he
was captured and was killed not by stray bullet as the world was made to
believe.I want to relocate to your country,to start up a new life. I have
some money in my possession which i will like to invest in
any profitable business in your country.I want you to guard me through the
business i will invest.I will reward you with 20 percent of the total
money.Please,I will give you more information as soon as I hear from you.
kindly send your reply to my private id:safia_gadafi1@9.cn
Waiting to hear from you
Mrs. Safia Gaddafi
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Anti-fraud resources:
