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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Sarah Mariner" <David@9566.us>
Reply-To: sm621816@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2017 19:37:11 -0700
Subject: Greetings!
Greetings!
I am Mrs Sarah Mariner an ageing widow of 50 years old suffering from long
time illness breast Cancer and Cancer of the lungs. I have the sum of
USD$6,200,000.00 and I needed a God fearing person to entrust the funds for
Charity works reply for details. Peace be with you as are willing to help
First I would like to inform you that I will not spend a single penny in
this transaction.
Second We can work only on affidavit public. If you interested kindly send
me the draft copy before proceeding. Third all the expenses up to transfer
of the fund into my account will be borne by you. If the above conditions
are suitable then we can join hands.
Thanks
Best Regards
Mrs Sarah Mariner
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Anti-fraud resources:
