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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:
- "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- cabinetassi@lawyer.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mohamed Fathy Saoud <abdulwaris@dephut.go.id>
Reply-To: Mohamed Fathy Saoud <mohamedfathysaoud@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 09:11:27 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: QATAR FOUNDATION LOTERIE : FELICITATION VOUS AVEZ GAGNE
QATAR FOUNDATION
Tel: +974 4454 0000
Fax: +974 4480 6117
Mail: P.O. Box 5825 Doha, Qatar
Cher(e) internaute , la QATAR FOUNDATION, a l'immense plaisir et l'insigne honneur de vous informer que pour la promotion et la vulgarisation de l'outil informatique;elle a instauré une loterie basée sur un ballotage de plusieurs milliers de mails.
A cet effet votre adresse electronique a été retenue parmi de millers d'autres comme l'heureux beneficiaire de la somme de 250 000 €
Par consequent nous vous prions de bien vouloir entrer en contact avec l'avocat en charge du dossier pour la reception de votre gain.
Me EL ASSI ABDEL KHADER
Email : cabinetassi@lawyer.com
Tel : 00212 606 555 272
Merci pour votre comprehension
Le President
Dr MOHAMMED FATHY SAOUD
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Anti-fraud resources:
