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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- philohene2009@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Phil Ohene" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philohene2009@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:58:30 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP !!! Mr. Phil Ohene.
From: Mr.Phil Ohene
philohene2009@yahoo.co.jp
Dear friend,
My name is Mr. Phil Ohene a branch bank manager with International Commercial bank Ghana.After several official enquiries from the foreign trade office of our Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I decided to contact you directly for an assistance.
I am interested to transfer in your country through your assistance.I am in Ghana presently and I have the sum of Fifteen Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars which I would like to transfer into your account and invest in your country if possible.
I made this money (US$15,850,000.00) out of my branch office excess profit for the 2007 fiscal year.I choosed you because I cannot be directly involve for I am still working with the bank, I hope you can understand my situation and assist me to receive and invest this money properly as this is my only hope. You will get 30% of the total fund as commission for your sympathetic co-operation while 70% will be for me.
Please kindly get back to me ASAP.
Best regards,
Mr. Phil Ohene.
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