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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:
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Yalda Hassan" <ahipolito3@itelefonica.com.br>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Yalda Hassan" <Yalda_55@shqiptar.eu>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 06:30:50 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Please help! help!! help!!!
Please help! help!! help!!!
I am Mrs.Yalda Hassan; I am married
to late Mr.Killam Hassan Who was a reputable business magnet in United
Kingdom He died of Heart Attack in the year 2011. We have only son died
in a ghastly motor accident last year 2013.
Presently, I am battling
with breast cancer and according to my medical report he says very that
my life is short that I only have about 3 months to live, I do not
know but only God can say.
My late husband deposited the sum of
(4.200.000.00) Four Million Two Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling
with a Bank here in United Kingdom.
Because my present health
condition I have decided to donate the above mentioned funds to an
individual Muslim, Christian or any faith, He or She will utilize these
funds the way I am going to instruct herein.
Remain blessed.
Mrs. Yalda Hassan
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Anti-fraud resources:
