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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- raybrown30@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. RAYMOND BROWN" <raybrown30@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2012 23:26:04 +0500 (TJT)
Subject: SUPPLY HERE IN GHANA.
DEAR SIR/MADAM
WE ARE AGENTS SOURCING FOR RELIABLE COMPANIES CAN SUPPLY TO OUR
GOVERNMENT YOUR PRODUCT,ETC IN A LARGER QUANTITY FOR ON GOING
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATE (ECOWAS CONTRACT
COMMITTEE)EXHIBITION CONTRACT SUPPLY HERE IN GHANA.
WE ARE INTERESTED YOUR PRODUCT AND TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU OR YOUR
COMPANY, LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HANDLE THIS SUPPLY;
WE NEED YOUR PRODUCT LIST AND SPECIFICATION INCLUDING THE PRICE. CONTACT ME
WITH THIS INFORMATION BELOW EMAIL: raybrown30@yahoo.com
OUR PAYMENT TERMS: IS 80% ADVANCE PAYMENT VIA (T/T) BY TELEGRAPHIC
TRANSFER,THE 20% BALANCE WILL BE PAID BEFORE SHIPMENT WILL COMPLETED
TO YOUR COMPANY THROUGH ECOWAS COMMITTEE.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR.RAYMOND BROWN
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Anti-fraud resources:
