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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: menard nelson <hirashi@basil.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: menard nelson <nelsonmenard1@gmail.com >
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 06:55:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU?
Hello Dear,
my name is Menard Nelson Kelly, from the hospitality state (Mississippi) America, an US
army Military force officer serving in Kabul Afghanistan.The reason why I explaining my
findings to you is to seek for your assistance to enable me move the sum of $19.3million
dollars which I discovered here in Afghanistan in a trunk box. I will like you to email
me at my private address ID so that i can communicate to you
and tell you more information about me.
Do have a pleasant day and stay blessed.I wait for your reply .
Best Regards
Menard Nelson K.
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Anti-fraud resources:
