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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Irene Elvis <irene_elvis@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Irene Elvis <irene_elvis2011@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 12:38:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: IRENE ELVIS
Hello Dear,
My name is Miss IRENE ELVIS I am 19 years old girl orphan from Sierra Leone but writing you presently from Lome,Togo. I have no relative in this world and I want you to be my guardian. I decided to contact you to stand by my side to secure some amount of money I inherited from my late father.
My late Father was a Rich Business man basedhere in Cote d'Ivoire but he was killed by the rebels in Bouake during the war in Cote d'Ivoire there.I hope you are aware of the war which has ravaged this country Cote D'Ivoire for the past years now .
It was in one of this attacks by the rebels that led to the death of my Parents. I urgently need your assistance to secure this my inheritance in to your country and also help me to establish a joint investments with you and also further my education in your country; or you will help me invest the money in a good company.
Sincerely,
IRENE ELVIS
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Anti-fraud resources:
