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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sarah Gadon <sandelacream@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sarahgadon200@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2021 04:37:07 -0700
Subject: Hello my Beloved One,
--
Hello,
My name is Sarah Gadon. I am a 21 year old girl and I am single. Due
to the political crisis in our country, I lost my parents and I am now
an orphan. My late parents left a legacy of Five million, two hundred
thousand United States dollars [US$ 5,200,000.00] on deposit with a
bank and I am the only next of kin to inherit the money. My parents
died leaving me with no one to look after me. I am contacting you so
you can be my guardian and help me invest the money in a good business
in your country.
Please help me with this in any way you can. I have no business ideas
and the bank is ready to transfer the money to any person I have
chosen as a guardian and partner. Please I want you to help me invest
the money in good business in your country. We will share the profits
you would make from the business 50/50.
Please let me know if you are interested so that I can give you more
information about myself and the money. I will like to convey my
warmest greetings to you and your family as I wait for your response.
I am waiting to hear from you.
Please I need your guardian and help.
Have a nice day.
Miss Sarah Gadon
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Anti-fraud resources:
