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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 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: <>
Reply-To: zarlatifa@outlook.com
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 2016 03:43:00 +0530
Subject: My Beloved One
My Beloved One
I am really sorry for mailing you without knowing you but my mind and my soul accepted you and your family that is why i am telling you my situation and condition here in my own country Syria.I was in Aleppo last year 8-05-2015 and i lost all my family leaving only me with 2.5 million us dollars and this money is now with me in the refugee camp of Zantarri.I only want to save my life in your own country with the help of the BRITISH RED CROSS COMMUNITY if only God has wishes for us together.I will come to your own country in other to save my precious life and live a new life in your own country,I will like to read from you as the crisis here in my own country Syria is getting so high everyday and night,Please save me and save my future in your own country for our future good and investment
with My family funds in your own country if only you can accept me in your country.Mail me
here (zarlatifa@outlook.com)
Regards,
Zarah Latifa.
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Anti-fraud resources:
