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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million us 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: "From Smith Frank United Nation Officer" <msfayzaab@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maryabach@sify.com
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:01:18 -0500
Subject:
--
.Hello
I am Mr Smith Franck, a senior United Nation diplomat and a British National.
I work with the United Nation office in the UK as senior financial
auditor covering the middle east. Due to the war in Syria, some
consignment containing funds and other valuable items were transfer to
our UK office from the united nation office in Syria On cross
examination, I discover one of the consignment containing $7.7Million US
Dollars.
I need your assistance to claim and invest this fund under my custody in
your country. in area of Real Estate business or any other profitable
business that you feel it will be lucrative investment in your country.
if you are willing to assist me get back to me for more details.
Thanks
Mr Smith Frank
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Anti-fraud resources:
