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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "any lucrative business in your country" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Catherine Robinson" <cathrobs1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:43:41 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: FROM: MRS. ROBINSON
Intensive Care Unit
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Accra - Ghana
Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Catherine Robinson a cancer patient and an American Citizen married
to late Dr Patrick Robinson who was a very successful businessman and
expatriate. I am donating the sum of $5million to you for humanitarian project
in your country, i decided to do this donation after listening to an old woman
donate her fortune to charity on youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v =O8o-e-
iLsUM ... I want you to use it and help the underprivileged, widows and also
invest in real estate or any lucrative business in your country which its
profit can also help the less privilege and widows since i cannot do it myself
due to my cancer problem, my doctors have revealed that i will not last long. I
hope you accept my kind gesture. I wait your reply for details.
Madam Catherine
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Anti-fraud resources:
