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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)
- "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: Mariam Nasser Habib Musa <nasserhabibmariam@yandex.com>
Reply-To: Mariam Nasser Habib Musa <mariam.nasserhabib@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 23 May 2016 04:39:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: In Good Faith.
Dear beloved One,
I am Mrs.Mariam
Nasser Musa Habib, Wife of Nasser Habib, from Angola who WAS until his
death an exporter of Gold and oil Explorer in Kuwait and Angola for
twelve years before he died. I am Sending you this email in regards to
my last wish. I have been diagnosed with cancer for a very long period. I
have been touched to Will the sum of $ 3.2million US dollars [three
million two hundred thousand United State dollars] from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you to assist me to distribute my
funds to charity work through your assistance organization if you are
willing to assist me bring my heart desire to manifestation for the
glory of God Allah, kindly reply me to enable me give you every legal
information that will enable you to claim the Fund for as my next of Kin
and help me conclude this humanitarian Project as I can not handle this
Project from my sick bed will be waiting for your response Thanks and
God Allah blessed you.
Mrs.Mariam Nasser Habib Musa
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Anti-fraud resources:
