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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: MABEL ENRIQUEZ <mabelnrriquez@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: mabel_enriquez001@yahoo.co.th
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:04:53 +0100 (BST)
Subject: KINDLY GET BACK TO ME FOR DETAILS
Dearest one
My name is Mrs. Mabel Enriquez,I am sorry to have contacted you without your prior notice, this is a matter of utmost importance. I contacted you out of luck and goodwill with hope of getting your urgent attention. I need to discuss with you on my propose project in your country.
I have a charity project that is dear to my heart which I wish to partnership with you to help the motherless babies home and widows in all part of the world.My family has been blessed many years and since the death of my husband I have been left with a fortune that I now intend to donate to charity project because I have been diagnosis with Breast and Blood disease which has defiled all forms of medical treatment.
I have been touched to donate from what I have made from this world to charity through you for the good work of humanity, rather than allow my husband's relatives that plotted his death to use our hard earned money inappropriately after my death.
Do kindly reply me once you are in receipt of this message so that i can details you accordingly and give you all details that will enable you have access to the funds where it was deposited in Europe by my late husband.
I am waiting for your reply.
Best regards.
Mrs. Mabel Enriquez.
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Anti-fraud resources:
