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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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: Vladislav Yarik <kidr@rgia.su>
Reply-To: <vladislavyarik@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:21:40 +0100
Subject: I am Vladislav Yarik
I am Vladislav Yarik. I was one of Mr Andriy Kliuyev’s aid and the most
confidential and trusted of the staff. Mr Kliuyev who used to be the
Head of the Presidential Administration during the reign of president
Viktor Yanukovych who was president of Ukraine from 25th February 2010
until last year.
I am in custody of a huge amount of money I would like to invest in
real estate or your line of business in your country. Contact me if
you are capable and suitable for partnership and I will provide the
funds for the investment. I personally participated in the diversion
of funds on behalf of my boss for the president. Shortly before the
political upheaval in Ukraine, Mr Kliuyev secretly ordered me to
divert the total sum of 35mil USD for him but I smartly used my name
as the depositor of the diverted 35mil USDollars before his government
was toppled. The money is presently deposited with a financial
institution in my name and I need your cooperation to re-profile the
funds in your name to enable us invest the funds in your country. I
will furnish you with further details when I hear from you.
Your quick response will be appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Vladislav Yarik.
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Anti-fraud resources:
