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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Susan Wafa" <investconsult2@clarofree.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: invest_susanwafa01@mail2susan.com
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 12:10:28 -0500
Subject: Investment Plan
Hello my dear,
Good day, I am Mrs, Susan Wafa, from Syria.
I want to invest in your country and I want you to assist me in
investing us$6.5 Million dollars in your country. My country is not good
to invest anything at this time because of ongoing war in my country Syria.
If you are interested to assist me I will offer you some percentage,
reply me so that I will send you full details on how we will start and
how things now.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Mrs. Susan Wafa
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Anti-fraud resources:
