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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:
- ",000,000" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- georgevin31@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: George Kelvin <georgevin31@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 01:55:29 +0100
Subject: TRANSFER
Greetings
I need your assistance to claim $30,000,000. and transfer to your
account, Note that this fund has been ensure to be transfer to oversea
account and i am forbidden to operate a foreign account that is why i
need a foreign partner who is reliable to work with me in this regard
This transfer will take us about 7days to complete as you are ready to
work with me. all necessary documents are secured with me.
If applicable kindly reply back to my privatemail; georgevin31@gmail.com
Thank you.
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Anti-fraud resources:
