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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.
- 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.
- mrkakudubenson1@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ATLANTA HOSPITAL <test1@msdsr.local>
Reply-To: <mrkakudubenson1@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 05:28:44 -0700
Subject: Pray For Me My Dearest in Heart
Pray For Me My Dearest in Heart
I am Mrs.Nancy Writebol, 59 yeares old. Writing from Atlanta hospital i
was infected with Ebola disease only God will save me. I need your pray
also i was brought up from a orphanages home and was married to my late
Husband without no child.I want you to help me contact my lawyer and the
security service where i deposited some items. Do Contact my security
service with your full contact details for further info.
Admin : Mr Kakudu Benson
Email : mrkakudubenson1@hotmail.com
Sincerely,
Mrs.Nancy Writebol
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Anti-fraud resources:
