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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:
- "million 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.
Fraud email example:
From: karen Sylvia <karensylvia466@gmail.com>
Reply-To: karensylvia90@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:00:02 +0100
Subject: DONATION FOR CHARITY WORK
Dearest one
I am Mrs Karen Sylvia British citizen married to late Dr.Daniel GUI Sylvia who
worked with the British embassy in Ivory Coast before he died. I have
$ 3.5 million
dollars donation as recently my doctor told me that I would not last
for the next six
months due to cancer disease and I decided to donate this fund to a church,
organization, institute or you as an individual who will use this fund for
orphanages, widows or to build house of God. Let me know your
interest to carry out
the work.
Hoping to receive your reply.
Yours in Christ
Mrs.Karen Sylvia
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Anti-fraud resources:
