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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:
- "hundred thousand 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 "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- mrs.salma.sayed@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Salma El-Sayed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Mrs.salma.sayed@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2017 04:39:46 -0700
Subject: Assalaamualaikum
Assalaamualaikum, I am Mrs.Salma El-Sayed. A widow to Late Engineer Ismail El-Sayed from the South Pacific Ocean, who worked with Saudi Arabian Chevron Inc., for twenty years before he died in the year 2012.
We were married for Twenty-Nine years. My late husband Engineer Ismail El-Sayed died with our children in a horrific accident on the Dammam-Riyadh Highway in the year 2012. After the death of my husband and my children I discovered that I have (CANCER-LEUKEMIA). My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth.
I am in London and my personal physician told me that I may not live more than eight months. Now I have decided to divide part of this wealth, by donating the sum of USD$16.500.000.00 (sixteen million five hundred thousand United States Dollars) to you. This is my last wish to give 60% of the total amount is invested in any Charity Society of your choice and including Disabilities. Thank you. l look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Mrs.Salma El-Sayed
Mrs.salma.sayed@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
