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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "mikemccarthy1958@qq.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: Mike Mccarthy <mikemccarthye1958@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Mike Mccarthy <mikemccarthy1958@qq.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2014 02:44:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Urgent Reply
Dear Friend,
How are you today?.Well it is a pleasure to contact you on this regard and i pray that this will turn out to be ever lasting relationship for both of us. However it's just my urgent need for a Foreign partner that made me to contact you for this Transaction,i got your contact from our chambers of commerce, while searching for someone trust-worthy that I can go into partnership with. I am Mr Mike Mccarthy, the bill and exchange manager with the Bank Of Africa.(B.O.A).
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over fund (US$15 Million UsDollars) Fifteen Millon United States Dollars States of American Dollars of one of my Bank clients who died at the country Burkina-Faso called Mr Arthur Billings by name and unfortunately the customer died with his wife and children in the Egyptian airways flight mishap of 2003.
I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as my foreign partner,50% for me while 10% is for establishing of foundation for the less privilleges in your country.If you are really interested in my proposal further details of the Transfer will be forwarded unto you as soon as I receive your willingness mail for successful transfer.kindly send the below informationâs You should also feel free to call me on my phone number +226 79 02 18 96. Please kindly reply me true this email address.(mikemccarthy1958@qq.com)
1. YOUR FULL NAMEâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
2. OCCUPATIONâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
3. MARITAL STATUSâ¦â¦â¦â¦
4. YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBERâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
5. AGEâ¦â¦â¦
Sincerely,
Mr Mike Mccarthy.
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