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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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "saeedahmed@blumail.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR Saeed Ahmed" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: saeedahmed@blumail.org
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2013 17:07:26 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE
My names are Mr. Saeed Ahmed, a real estate agent in UNITED EMIRATE UAE. I
have been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer.I have been on medical
treatment after which it was confirmed by my doctor that I have cancer in
2011.I want to donate the sum of 18 Million Dollars to you.I saw a
profile of you on the net.I hope that God directed me to the right person
that will use these funds to fund orphanage homes,help the needy and
widows.I want you to respond back to me as soon as possible for more
information if you are interested. If not, then do not bother to write
back. I will keep praying that God direct me until maybe I get an email
from you.Contact me through my private email address:
saeedahmed@blumail.org
Thank you for reading my email.
Mr. Saeed Ahmed
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Anti-fraud resources:
