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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "sawasdipol.phumphat@y7mail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "raheem mubarak ali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sawasdipol.phumphat@y7mail.co>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 11:34:43 +0700
Subject: Dear.ma/sir
Sir,
It is my honor and with a heart deep of humiliation and seeking good consolation that I write to you. My name is Phumphat Sawasdipol the son of Late Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol from Thailand. My Late Father Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol was the leader of the Anti- government protesters ("The Red Shirts") who was shot on the head on 13th May 2010 while he was granting an interview with the New York Times. You can read more on my late father's murder on this Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/world/asia/14thai.html
The government has seized all the multibillion dollar companies owned by my late father and his partners. They have also frozen his bank accounts. I write to seek your assistance in investing the fund amounting US$21.6 Million
Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars] which my late father deposited in a finance firm.
I will give you all the legitimate information concerning the fund and details about me on hearing from you sawasdipol.phumphat@y7mail.com . You are assured that you will have much benefit as you assist me in this regard to secure this fund. Please do not disclose any part of this message if you are not interested in giving this profitable assistance.
Best Regards
Phumphat Sawasdipol.
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Anti-fraud resources:
