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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: Moussa Blair <blairmoussa@yahoo.com.sg>
Reply-To: Moussa Blair <moussablair@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 07:11:18 +0800
Subject: Please i need your urgent assistance.
Good Day,
How are you doing with your family? I got your contact email through your country data base were searching for a reliable person to trust who can help me receive the sum of $10.million USD. I would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Mr Moussa Blair;I from Damascus in Syria I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country because of our situation here in Syria i want to relocate with my family to your country so that my children will start their school again.
I will be so glad if you can me and my family to our situation now. I have lost my only brother and his first son because of this Syria war. what i want is for you to help me receive this money and rent a house for us then deposit the balance in your account were i make arrangement how to come over there with my family.
Please I promise to give you 25% of the money. and i will also make you my partner in the company which i am about to establish there. If you accept to help me get back to me so i can detail you how the money will be sent to you.
I look forward to ready from you.
Sincerely
Moussa Blair.
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Anti-fraud resources:
