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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Davis Brown" <davisb1@dr.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 11:42:43 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION FROM SYRIA
Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Dr. Davis Brown working with UNICEF as a medical Doctor taking care of wounded kids as well as refugees in Syria also a family Doctor to (MR. MAATHAI R. THIONGO and her only daughter CATHERINE)
I'm contacting you in respect to the little girl (Catherine) 12 years of age whose father was killed in a Two car bomb attack that happened at Karam al-Luz, a predominantly Alawite district in SYRIA. she is seeking for your help, according to her statement she wants to further her education abroad as her father left behind some fund (USD 5.9 Million Dollars and 120kg of refined gold) in a safe house here in SYRIA, Permit me to provide you the full details in my next mail upon your response and readiness to stand as her late father's business partner and beneficiary with back up documents which i shall provide to claim the valuables left by the deceased to help the little girl for her future. Please do take this mail in earnest.
Respectfully Yours,Dr. Davis Brown
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Anti-fraud resources:
