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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:
- "loan amount" (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- "your loan " (Beware of fake loan offers. Real lenders would not normally use free webmail addresses such as Yahoo, nor would they lend to individuals or small businesses in a different country from where they are based. Beware of mobile phones or redirector numbers!)
- 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.
- brightmicrofirnance@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "kunihira barbara" <info@loan.com>
Reply-To: brightmicrofirnance@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:21:29 +0300
Subject:
Hello Dear Client,
we know much about your financial problems and we know the kind of
loan you. you will not pay any fees for the Loan which you wanted.
All fees will be paid by the company name as follows(up front fees,
transfer fees and if necessary reactivation of Account if possible)
but you will be expected to pay only 100USD for Insurance fees,if your
loan is not more than 1000USD. in case you are not physically okay at
the due time payment, the insurance company be hold responsible.
and if that the due time of payment, you no longer have job, the insurance
will then be hold responsibly. That is the only fees the company can not
pay for Our Client. if you want the loan you can fill in the
details below to enable us to transfer you loan within the next
48hours okay
Full Names of Applicants:.......
Loan Amount Requested:.....
Loan Duration:......
Loan Purpose :.....
Have you apply Before?....
Address of Applicant:..
Occupation: .....
City: .......
State: ......
Country: ........
Gender: ......
Age:.......
Mobile.....
Email: brightmicrofirnance@hotmail.com
BILLY HACK
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Anti-fraud resources:
