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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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 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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- obosiadonald@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: donald obosia <obosia3@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 16:18:26 +0100
Subject: Greeting's
Obosia Donald
Please reply me Via this Email: obosiadonald@hotmail.com
I am Obosia Donald, personal attorney to Late Mr.P.E.Germond,a national of
your country, who died and left some huge amount of money with a bank here
in Lome West Africa, valued at US$ 9 million dollars. I have contacted you
to assist in having this fund transferred to your account.
Get back to me with the following information’s if you are interested for
further details.
Occupation.......
Marital status...
Age...............
Phone number.....
Fax number.......................
Your full contact address...
Your private email address
And please respond to my private email address which is
obosiadonald@hotmail.com Tel + 228 999 22 510
Regard
Obosia Donald
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Anti-fraud resources:
