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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "STEVE MARK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevemark694@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 05:26:33 +0530
Subject: Kindly reply back
Hello Sir/Madam,
I am inspired to send you this email by the huge opportunity that it will be
of mutual benefit to us.My late client a national of Israel a Man who used
to work
with Shell before his untimely death few years ago and inquiries to several
embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives proved abortive.I
decide to trace his relatives over the Internet . Still no success .
Hence,this contact to you.
I contacted you only to assist in repatriating the sum involved otherwise the
estate he left behind will be declared unserviceable by the bank which just
issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account frozen.I
now
use this medium to seek your consent so that the proceeds can be paid to you
since I have all the necessary legal documents to back up our claim.
I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that
will protect you and I from any breach of the law. All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us redeem the funds. Kindly reply back if this
proposal satisfies your interest.
Steven Mark.
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Anti-fraud resources:
