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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:
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- mrslovinalong338@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Vina Long" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: Vinalong338@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 20:08:50 -0300 (ART)
Subject: PLEASE READ !!!
I am Mrs. Vina Long an aging widow suffering from cancer, I have some funds I inherited from my
late husband.I will ask my attorney to prepare the necessary document to transfer the funds from my
late husband online offshore account and property to you. I need you to carry out my last wish as I
don't know if I will survive the operation. And 30% of the total sum should be transferred to any
orphanage home. Please contact me with your details if you wish to carry out this charity project.
Thanks again for you concern and Stay blessed.... MrsLoVinalong338@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources: