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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: Mr John Mike <jj5361385@gmail.com>
Reply-To: united.nation225@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2015 10:04:09 +0100
Subject: Attention Fund Owner
UNITED NATION LONDON UK
>From the Desk of Mr John Mike
Account &Exchange Dept.
United Nation.
Attention Fund Owner,
This is to notify you that there is a new development about your
contract/inheritance funds of $5.5m,we have concluded to deliver your
funds of $5.5m to you in your country through diplomatic service and
upon his arrive to your country he will have to reach on your
telephone so that you can conclude the transaction with him.
I hereby to notify you that the diplomatic did not know the context of
the fund is money..
I hope to hear from you soon.
Mr John Mike
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Anti-fraud resources:
