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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:
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sarah David <sarah_david99@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: saradavid308@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 09:25:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PLEASE WITH TRUST AND HONEST
Greetings my dear,
With Due Respect and Humanity, Based on your good profile I want to solicit for your help. My name is Miss Sara David the daughter of the former cabinet Minister in Khartoum, I am in search of a property to buy in your country as I intended to move over there soon to continue my education, my life is at risky here because of the new government which is the cause of my fatherâs death, presently I have in our deposit $8 Million United States Dollars to be used in buying the house that will accommodate me and the balance you will invest in a stable business venture in your country for my future after my education because presently i can't handle this fund I want you to be my guardian to my fund I shall be willing to compensate you generously for your help I will give you more detail about the fund and about my life immediately I hear from you but Iâm 19 years old for the moment Iâm waiting for your message
Thanks
Miss Sara David
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Anti-fraud resources: