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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (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: abubakar ali <alia37393@gmail.com>
Reply-To: abubakar ali <abubakar_ali07@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 20:38:26 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Salamaleku please read.
SALAMALEKU.
my name is Abubakar Ali from Libya; my father is one of late Gadhafi\'s
special guards who died at the war in libya. ,
please I need your Urgent assistance to help me receive the sum
of $7.4 million United States Dollars that my father kept at the security company
for safe keeping and investment on my behalf in your country.
Upon the receipt of your response; I will give you full details on how
the shipment will be executed through the help of a (UN) and also note that you will have 40% of
the above mentioned sum while 50% will be for me and 10% for any
expenses that might arise along the line of the transaction.
If you agree to handle this transaction with me then I will be expecting your
urgent reply With your full complete contact information.
Name..
Address...
Phone number...
Best Regards,
ABUBAKAR ALI.
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Anti-fraud resources:
