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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: "Major Kevin Petit" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <majkevpetit2117@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:47:32 -0500
Subject: Hello
Hello,
My name is Major Kevin Petit, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Commander of the Cavalry Squadron United States Army deployed to Iraq. Prior to my email i want you to please take your time to read the following news.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-05/news/0306050213_1_gold-bars-iraqis-saddam-hussein
Now i happen to be the Commander of the troop in the story that found the truck containing the Raw Gold and i have a very good deal for you if you are interested you will make 3 Million Dollars in few days very simple, i found a very reliable way to ship 250 Kilos of 96% Raw Gold Bars to any destination of my choice and with this opportunity all i need is someone capable to receive the Gold, make the sale take out your 3 Milllion and keep the rest of the money safe till i am able to meet you in few weeks if you are interested please email me the following so i can get the ball rolling.
Full Name:
Full Address:
Mobile Phone:
Waiting to hear from you.
Major Kevin Petit
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Anti-fraud resources:
