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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Usman Hassan" <barristerwilliammccarthy@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usmanhassann02@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:10:23 -0700
Subject: Dear Beloved Beneficiary
Dear Beloved Beneficiary
How are you doing today? Hope is fine?
I believe you will understand this mail. Please take your time and
read this mail and get back to me for solutions.Have you ask yourself
the reason why you have not succeeded in receiving that inheritance
funds. I know the source of the funds that you did not execute any
contract in Africa , although I am the only person privileged to know
this information and it is a fact. Why I am making this clear to you
is that I can see that you are still making efforts in order to
conclude this project. Now I am ready to forget the past.If your
really want to receive your fund and know the reason you have not
received it. Kindly contact me back so that I will give you a download
and tell you what you will do to receive the fund without sending
money here and there with no result.
I need your promise that no official of the Bank will be aware of my
involvement in this regard because of my position. Now re-assure me
that you will be willing to compensate me and that you will assist my
wife to establish a foreign account in your country where my
compensation will be lodged. I am a man of my word.
If you are ready to conclude this business with me, kindly contact me
on my private emailso that we can have a chat over this issue once and
for all. But if the reverse is the case, do not bother yourself to
reach me and forget about this money.
BEST REGARDS
Dr. Usman Hassan
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Anti-fraud resources:
