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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 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: esther <williamandestherfamily@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wwilliamandfamilys@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:50:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Sir This is CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Sir This is CONFIDENTIAL
I am Mrs Williams from Kenya, Executive Assistant to the president of (KOP) Kenya Orphanage Project in Kenya Founded by Dr Monique Boekhout, I am writing in respect of investment assistant in your country which I will like to have your full support as to legalize the investment properly in your country.
The fund was raised during the estimates of the project in 2010 organized by Late Michael Jackson; he gave an assistant of $50M Dollars to build the Kenya Orphanage Project while we have total estimates of $40M Dollars to conclude the building project.
I have about Ten million dollars to be invested hoping to have a reliable person that will not betray me after the successful transfer of the fund to him or her account, so I proposed to you for the investment assistant to lift the fund Ten million $10M Dollars to your bank account for join investment in your country.
I will direct you future once I heard from you.
Thanks for your understanding and Cooperation.
Mrs, Esther Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
