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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:
- "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: Celine Karman <yeta24@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 2 May 2015 12:02:22 +0200
Subject: Hello Very Urgent
Dear,
My
Name is Celine Karman From Ivory Coast and I am writing this letter with
heartfelt of tears since we have not met ourselves previously, I want to
re-assure you that this transaction is 100% legitimate and genuine and will be
executed in a transparent way. I lost my parents last month Bombardment by the
Rebels.
My late father is a Multi Millionaire and I am determined to move
to your country the sum of $3.7Million Dollars which my late Father kept in the
Bank.
Hope to receive your fast response. So that i will give you every
details including my pictures. etc.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Celine
Karman.
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Anti-fraud resources:
