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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- aaban_aarifah@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Aaban Aarifah <clara.will51@gmail.com>
Reply-To: aaban_aarifah@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 17:13:55 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,
*Dear Friend,I am MissAarifah Aaban.I saw your contact on the internet and
i decided tocontact you for a business proposal that would be of mutual
benefit toboth of us interest in the nearest future.I am in need of your
help toassist me as my rightfully beneficiary to contact a
securityfinance company to deliver my inheritance fund to you in your
countryin the access of (EURO Euro 7.5 Million) meaning Seven
Million,fivehundred thousand Euros while i will join you to your country
for theinvestment of the fund and continue my education because i really
lostevery member of my family .This is my reason for contacting you and if
you may be willing toassist me,then kindly get back to me through my
privateE-mail[aaban_aarifah@yahoo.com <aaban_aarifah@yahoo.com>]so that i
will tell you more aboutmyself and aswell send you my pictures for you to
know me better.Thanks and God bless as you welcome my proposal with love
and trust.Yours Sincerely,Aarifah Aaban*
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Anti-fraud resources:
