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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 us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "calvary greetings" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Hannah Brown <mrs.hannahbrown2000@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 08:23:09 +0100
Subject: From Mrs Hannah Brown
Calvary Greetings,
My Name Is Mrs Hannah Brown a lung cancer patient I have decided to donate
what I have for the charity works orphanage homes widows and propagating
the word of God and in reaching the less privileged in the society with
this benevolence through you. hence my inability to communicate with this
project more effectively as I am on sick bed which I can not walk or do
anything unless by the help of my doctors and nurses, please keep this
matter to yourself because this is a vow I have already made to God and I
will like it to be between you and me to avoid anything that will hinder my
vow.
I am donating the sum of five million us dollars ($5,000,000.00) that is my
inheritance from my late husband who was a successful gold and cocoa
business dealer. you may be wondering the reason why I choose you but
someone has to be chosen, I am 61 years old and was diagnosed cancer of the
lungs about 2 years ago Immediately after the death of my husband who had
left everything he worked for on my care because we don’t have any child
that will lay claims on this fund. so if you are willing to assist me to
carry out this charity project: let me know:
Regards
Mrs Hannah Brown
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Anti-fraud resources:
