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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Roxane Ouedrago" <oms.roxane@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2016 00:41:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,  I am Ms. Rosane Oudreogo,Auditing and Int'l Relationship Manager (ECB) Burkina Faso. I got your emailaccount while searching for a business oriented personality and i am happy tofind you. I bring forth a business proposal worth Twelve Million Five HundredThousand United State Dollars Only. ($12.500.000 USD) to be transferred to aforeign account with your assistance acting as beneficiary and next-of-kin tothe Inheritance funds.  If you know you are capable ofinvolving and partaking in this transaction, let me know. More details comefollowing your reply. I am waiting for your urgent reply so that we will startsimmediately. Sorry if you received this letter in your spam, Due to recentconnection error here in my country  Ms. Rosane Oudreogo
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Anti-fraud resources:
