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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Idris Ramasa" <mumspet5@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrramasaidris@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2016 13:21:35 +0000
Subject: Be Rest Assure And Quickly Reply Back..
Dear Friend,
I was totally convinced to write you in reference to the transfer of
$8.6 Million Dollars to your account for onward investment ( Hotel
industries and Estate building management, Factory and Textile
Productions And Extruction of Raw Materials To finished Product For
Usage) or any profitable Oriented business in your country.
I Need you to stand as my foreign partner for investment in your
country and also next of kin to these fund am about to transfer to you
if accepted by you to work with me Please reply immediately if you are
interested, so that I can give you more information.
Be Rest Assure that these fund transfer to your custody is risk free
and profit oriented to both of us.
May Almighty God Bless You!
Regards,
Mr Idris Ramasa.
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Anti-fraud resources:
