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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "ecobank_bf@voila.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "ecobank_bf@voila.fr" (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: angela mayer <angela.mayer05@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ecobank_bf@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:29:44 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON
Dear friend
please contact the bank through this email address ecobank_bf@voila.fr
I am Mrs Angela Mayer and i have been suffering from ovarian cancer
disease and
the doctor says that i have just two days to leave. I am from
Ireland (Dublin)
but based in England since eight years ago. as a business woman
dealing with jewellery .Now that i am about to end the race like
this, with out any family members and no child. I have £3 Million Great
Britain Pounds in Natwest bank England which i instructed the bank
to give St AndrewsMissionary Home in Manchester .But my mind is not at
rest because i am writing this letter now through the help of my computer
beside my sick bed.
I also have £4.5million Great Britain Pounds in Ecobank London office and
i
instructed the bank to transfer the money to the first foreigner that will
apply to the bank after i have gone that they should release the fund to
him/her, but you will assure me that you will take 50% of the money and give
50% to the orphanages home in your country for my heart to rest. You are to
contact the bank through this email address ecobank_bf@voila.fr
Yours fairly friend,
Madam Angela Mayer
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Anti-fraud resources:
