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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- mrsaminafaroog@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Amina Faroog" <kinnchu@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: mrsaminafaroog@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:19:55 +0800 (CST)
Subject: RE
mrsaminafaroog@rocketmail.com
Hello Beloved,
I am Mrs. Amina Farooq from Republic Of Benin, currently undergoing
medical treatment at the Northern Center For Cancer Care. My
husband died in a car accident over a year ago and we were married
with a child who is now 16. When my late husband was alive
he deposited the sum of $4.5 Million UD Dollars in a private bank here.
I want a God fearing individual to manager this fund and provide
succor to the poor in society and my son who is now 16yrs
and too young to handle this matter.
I have already discussed this matter with my son and we resolved to
make available to you 30% of the total fund for yourlabor and inconvenience.
Please contact me and let me know if you can be of help as my doctors
told me that I could not last for more months due to my
cancer and stroke condition. I shall give you all the legal papers so
that you would not have any problem undertaking this
matter.
mrsaminafaroog@rocketmail.com
Best Regards,
Mrs. Amina Farooq.
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Anti-fraud resources:
