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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: saima <saimamurunga1@voila.fr>
Reply-To: saimamurunga@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:26:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Att:
Att:
Assistance enquiry of Investment letter .
May the peace of God be with you
Please It's my pleasure to meet you with this letter , Am Miss. Saima Arnold Murunga from West Africa ,am 19years old and my parents are late, I got a contact details from an online directory through TRADE INVESTMENT in your Country and was interested if you will assist me as a foreign partner to help me invest some of my inheritance funds from late parents in your country.Meanwhile. am very willing to invest in your country after i saw this TRADE INVESTMENT of your country but I do not have a business permit there since am not a citizen of your country.
The total funds involves is sum of ($11.6 million USD)if you can assist me
waiting to hear from you soon for more details
God bless
regards
Miss. Saima Arnold Murunga
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Anti-fraud resources:
