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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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "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: esquest est <esquest@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 09:58:50 +0000
Subject: I Beleive in you
Dear Friend
I am writing you today to express my sorrows and pains.
Few months ago ,i became aware of financial acquisition that were very significant to my life.
I discovered a trove of surprise touching letter from my late Father (61)with instructions to be read on certain dates after he had died,He passed away after a long battle with Marfan's Syndrome .
The letter further said i should pardon my uncles who poisoned and killed my mother but should not have anything to do with them in life but rather leave the country with this financial acquisition that entitled me Next of Kin.
Over 12 months i have been in hospital for Influenza and pneumonia disease ,because of the new development i want to solicit for your guardianship in this entitled legacy fund Six Million Nine hundred thousand United State Dollars and also present you as my relation/ guardian to the medical personnel in the hospital before undergoing operation, I am 17yrs, the only survived child.
You are a stranger but going by my late father warning life with God is better than life without.
Regards
Miss Paula Elizea
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Anti-fraud resources:
