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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:
- "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: Mrs Linda Elvis Roland <madam.72linda@gmail.com>
Reply-To: madam.1966linda@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2015 03:09:55 +0200
Subject: RE RE
Hello my dear,
I am over worried to hear from you, and thank God my health is getting
little better but I'm still in the hospital bed for some medical
treatment in my old age.
Notice informations/ The Church Bishop who is holding your society
donation Funds visited me in the hospital this morning to pray for me,
but according to the holy Bishop John Allen he said that you never
contact him to claim your donation Funds these sum of $4.5 Million
dollars as instructed before i was admitted in the hospital.
Please i am advising you to contact Bishop John Allen today to claim
your donation Funds these total sum of $4.5 Million dollars to support
those Less Privilege in your home Town as part of Charity work and God
evangelism.
Clarify me" i hope you still have Bishop John Allen Email address ?
Update me so that i can have rest of mind here in the hospital.
I need urgent reply.
Yours Faithfully,
Form Mrs Linda Elvis Roland.
Coccody Medical Center.
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Anti-fraud resources: