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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:
- "i want to solicit your attention" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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: Alberto Ryan <senudoudoma22@gmail.com>
Reply-To: albertoryan62@onet.pl
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:51:30 +0100
Subject: Re: I Need your help
--
Dear Sir /Madam
I am Capt Albertto S. Ryan, an officer in the US Army, I am now redeployed
to Afghanistan from Iraq as the last batch just left, and I really need
your help in assisting me with the safe keeping of military trunk box. I
hope you can be trusted?
I am writing this email with tears and heavy heart because of what I am
facing here trying to defend the world against terrorist threats. My
colleagues die on daily basis as a result of incessant suicide bombing and
attacks from Isis.
I only pray at this time that your address is still valid. I want to
solicit your attention to finally a receive treasury box which contains
USD$18Million which I have moved to a location through the assistance of
a delivery company which I shall inform you on how to contact the agent
upon your response for you to receive the shipment on my behalf for our
mutual benefit.
If you can be trusted, I will explain further when I get a response from
you. God bless you and thanks for cooperation in advance.
Best Regards,
Capt Albertto S. Ryan
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Anti-fraud resources:
