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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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- revjackdanbrown@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "joy james" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjackdanbrown@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:33:06 -0600
Subject: contact rev jack dan brown immediately for your fund
Dear Friend,
This is to thank you for your effort.
I understand that your hands were tied.
Not to worry. I have succeeded, the money has been transferred into
the account provided by a newly found friend of mine in Australia. To compensate
for your past assistance and commitments have dropped an International Certify Bank
Draft of $2.5million for you.
I am in now in hospital for treatment of cancer which may led me to dead in any moment
from now, please remember to pay 10 percent to charity organization and remain balance
is for you and your family.
More over, Contact Rev.jack dan brown with blow information to enable him delivery the
cheque to you.
Contact person: Rev.jack dan brown
Email:(revjackdanbrown@gmail.com]Telephone.+229 9923 7105
just hell him to me OK
Forward my mail to him, then ask him to send the cheque to you and provide for him
the following information.
Your full name
You home address
your photo copy
And your telephone number.
Take good care of your self and more bless.
Regards,
Mrs Joy James
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This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
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