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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:
- "western union" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: ann parkhurst <asparkhurst@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ann parkhurst <asparkhurst@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 06:44:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GREETINGS TO YOU FROM ANN PARKHURST
How are you doing. I hope all
is well with you and family. I'm in a very tight mess right now and I'm
very sorry for involving you in my present issue but I was left with no
choice but to contact you. I would have called you but my phone keeps
showing No signal here due to bad network...
I took an urgent
visit to Kansas city (MO) USA to see my sick sister who is suffering
from a critical Uterine fibroid and must undergo a hysterectomy surgery
to save her life in (St. Luke's Hospital). The news of her illness
arrived to me as an emergency,she's going through a lot of pains at the
moment and she needs family support to keep her going. The doctors have
advised that it is necessary that the tumor is operated soon to avoid
any complications. I hope you understand my plight and pardon me. The
estimate for the Hysterectomy surgery is $12,800. I have already spent
approx. $9,200 cash towards her treatment so am wondering if you can
assist me with a loan of $2000 or more to help my sisters live or you
can help me with a loan as well of any amount as i promise to pay you
back so to make the necessary arrangement for the surgery to be carried
out.
Your help and support will give her a chance to live a
normal life once again. I will surely pay you back as soon as I return. I
should have go ahead calling you but my phone isn't working here.
I
will appreciate whatever you can help me with. Kindly let me know if
you can be of help so I can send you my western union details since I
cannot operate my bank account from here...I promise to pay back as soon
as I return home. Its a donation so any amount will really help us go a
longer way from here.
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