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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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: LUBA <lkowalczyk@stfrancislz.org>
Reply-To: <camluba2017@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 May 2017 19:36:56 +0000
Subject: LUBA
My Dear Friend,
Presently, I'm in the hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for Esophageal Cancer. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 30days. I am a Widow to Late Colonel Sebastian Camacho, former Deputy Defense Attaché to Benin Embassy in Russia. My husband was killed by those who were envious of his position in the same office. Before his death he made a vow to use his wealth for orphanages and less privileged. There is 4.5 Million Euro my late husband deposited in a bank here in Benin Republic. I have decided to donate this money to a God fearing person like you who will utilize it the way I am going
to instruct. Reply urgently for more details.
Mrs.Luba Camacho
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Anti-fraud resources:
