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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:
- "a security company " (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs. Rebecc Sanders <stewart1978@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stewart19788@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:57:55 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD.
I am Mrs. Rebecc Sanders from MICHIGAN (USA) writing you this email hoping it will meet you in good condition I am a deaf and I am suffering from a long time illness
which I feel has not give me the power to fulfill my heart desires for the poor people which I such care for during my good healthy days.
My dear I write you this email to seek for your email help in receiving sum of my funds which was deposited in a security company in United States by my late husband,
this funds I want you to distribute to motherless baby homes, widows, orphanage homes etc.
If you will be willing to do this on my behalf as a trustworthy Christian please reply me for more details, when I get your response I will give you the contact of the
security company so that you can contact them via email/tele phone for the release of the funds to you will tell you the amount when I get your response.
LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS
VANITY.
MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I AWAIT
URGENT REPLY.
THANKS.
Mrs. Rebecc Sanders
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Anti-fraud resources: