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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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 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.
- mrjosephawusu@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Joseph Awusu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail1987@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:35:05 -0700
Subject: Good Day my dear friend
Greetings my dear friend
I am Mr. Joseph Awusu. Chairman board of trustees PRECIOUS MINERALS MARKETING COMPANY GHANA and also the chairman foreign contract awarding committee.
the business is in detail: We awarded contracts amount to ($800 million USD) (eight hundred million United States dollars) to our foreign contractors. But we intentionally over invoice the amount with ($25 million USD). we made this provision intentionally for investment abroad to take care of our families when we retire from work, right now we need assistance of a trusted foreigner who is going to receive the funds.
The job has been completed and all the contractors have been paid off completely. We therefore want a foreign partner who will stand as the owner of this $25 million to
enables us transfer it into your personal bank account.
You will be rewarded with 30% of the total sum after expenses, please if you are interested and capable of handling this amount, reply: mrjosephawusu@yahoo.com.hk
Note. All arrangement has been made by the top officials of the committee for a legal and smooth transfer of this funds into your account. looking forward to hear from you soon Yours sincerely Mr. Joseph Awusu.
Awaiting your urgent respond.
Yours sincerely
Mr. Joseph Awusu
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