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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 united states 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.
- 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.
- foma.conrroy@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <fax@ansrplus.com>
Reply-To: <mrs.foma_conroy1@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2016 14:11:34 -0500
Subject: Greetings From Mrs Foma Conroy
Greetings From Mrs Foma Conroy
I am sending you this mail in good faith. I am Mrs.Foma Conroy now undergoing medical treatment for cancer.I was married to late Engr. Herbert Conroy who was a contractor in Malaysia for many years. Before his death in 2008, we both had an account with a financial institution where we deposited the sum of $3.5 Million United States dollars. Recently, my doctor told me that I will be going in for a surgery soon and I want to make sure that I make this donation before undergoing my surgery.
Having known my condition; I have decided to nominate you as my beneficiary since the financial institution has now written me that the length of time agreed upon to hold our funds have expired. My desire and purpose is for you to promote humanitarian works. I.e. assisting the less privileged and building orphanage homes in your Country.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. I will direct you further after hearing from you via email: foma.conrroy@yahoo.com
Regards,
Mrs Foma Conroy
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Anti-fraud resources:
