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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Attorney Michael Stewart" <jonathan@feshanphils.com>
Reply-To: mike_ste@126.com
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 11:47:55 -0800
Subject: With sincere mind I...
Dear Sir/Madam, With sincere mind I send you this message on behalf of the =
Trustees and Executors to the Will of our late client and we wish to notify=
you that you were listed as the beneficiary to the total sum of =A318,500,=
000.00 GBP (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in the C=
odicil and last testament of the deceased. We therefore reckoned that you c=
an receive these funds as you are qualified by your name identity. Legal do=
cuments will be processed on your acceptance. Kindly forward your address t=
o enable us file necessary documents at the High Court (Probate Division) f=
or the release of these sum to you. We look forward to hearing from you Bes=
t Regards, Attorney Michael Stewart
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Anti-fraud resources:
