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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- babysweety111@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: sweety baby <babysweety111@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 04:13:05 -0700
Subject: Reply Me
Hello Dear,
My name is Miss Nana Blessing a British African and I am 23 years and my
parents died in auto car accident in 2011 and few months after the death of
my parents I received a letter from my family lawyer that my late father
left a legal declaration worth US$15.5m in my name with Nat West Bank
London.
I solicit for someone who will stand as my guardian to claim the fund and
assist me to invest it in a portable venture in his/her country.
Please indicate your interest by contacting me strictly through my private
email address (babysweety111@gmail.com) for further information on how to
proceed with the necessary documentations and I will also send you my
pictures so that you can know whom you are dealing with ok, because, I am
looking forward to meet you in person.
Best regards,
Miss Nana Blessing
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Anti-fraud resources:
