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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- dalhatusarki3207@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mallam Dalhatu Sarki <mdipangrazio@asl1abruzzo.it>
Reply-To: <dalhatusarki3207@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2016 07:56:26 +0300
Subject: Good Day
Good Day
My name is Mallam Dalhatu Sarki, I have a business venture which I will like to invest in your country. I am sorry to write to you for the first time without you knowing who I am. meanwhile can I trust you on this move? Can you work with me? Can you protect me and represent me if I should build my trust on you concerning some investment ideas in your region which will give us a brighter tomorrow and service to humanity, we can meet and discuss the subject matter of the investment.
Your urgent reply is needed soonest, Please reply me through my private email : dalhatusarki3207@yahoo.com
I look forward in anticipation for your cooperation response.
Mallam Dalhatu Sarki
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Anti-fraud resources:
