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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barbara Luwis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barbaraluwis@barid.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 13:16:47 -0800
Subject: Thank God I found you.
Hello dear,
How are you? Hope fine.
I am happy that i found you. I have being trying to locate you for over a month now that my Bank mandated me to provide you for the claim of your late uncles fund of $20M with our Bank for 6 years now.
We have only 7 days left or else they will confiscate this fund. I need your urgent reply to enable me forward your name for the immediate claim and transfer of this fund into your account. I am Miss. Barbara Luwis an account officer of your late uncle.
I wait your urgent cooperation to have this fund secured.
Regards,
Miss. Barbara Luwis.
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Anti-fraud resources:
