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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: "Ms Olena Kurylova" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oleenainfo@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 04:23:43 +0530
Subject: HELLO
Dear sir,
My name is Ms Olena Kurylova. I am writing from Ukraine.I am a banker working with Pravex Bank. I am currently staying at one of the temporary refugee camp at Simferopol, Crimea Region in Ukraine.The Temporary Camp is been managed by the Salvation Army.
I want you to assist me because I have a problem at hand here due to the war going on here that have rendered so many of us homeless especially as in my own case where I have lost my father,mother and 3 other siblings.
I have only one hope of survival now hence,I want you to assist and save my life.
I will give you the details immediately I receive your reply and
interest to help me.
Yours Faithfully,
Ms Olena Kurylova.
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Anti-fraud resources:
