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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:
- "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: Abdul Waheed Umar <abdulwaheedumar1970@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 20:07:14 +0100
Subject: YOUR ASSUSTANT
Sir/Ma,
I am writing to you base on the recommendation of a friend of mine
working with your embassy in Tripoli Libya. First let me introduce
myself. My name is Abdul Waheed Umar attorney to the son of Libyan
leader Col Muammarm Gaddafi who is currently in detention. I need your
urgent assistant for the claim release of deposited $26million.
We wants to move the fund out of the deposited location, For your
assistant, you will have 25% after you have claimed the fund and
reaming 75% will be lodged in a bank for investment purposes with your
advise are you ready to assist?
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Abdul
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Anti-fraud resources: