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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (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.
- stellabanga@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: stella banga <innocentaponchei@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stellabanga@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:13:50 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,
*Dear Friend,
I am Miss Stella Banga .I saw your contact on the internet and i decided to
contact you for a business proposal that would be of mutual benefit to both
of us interest in the nearest future.I am in need of your help to assist me
as my my rightfully beneficiary to contact a security finance company to
deliver my inheritance fund to you in your country in the access of (€ Euro
7.5 Million) meaning Seven Million,five hundred thousand Euros while i will
join you to your country for the investment of the fund and continue my
education because i really lost every member of my family .
This is my reason for contacting you and if you may be willing to assist
me,then kindly get back to me through my private E-mail(
stellabanga@yahoo.com) so that i will tell you more about myself and as
well send you my pictures for you to know me better.
Thanks and God bless as you welcome my proposal with love and trust.
Yours Sincerely,
Stella Banga
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Anti-fraud resources:
