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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:
- "keep this confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
- This email message is a "Yukos oil" scam. The criminals who send such emails have no connection to Yukos Oil. The emails are usually sent from Nigeria. The only money that ever changes hands in this scam is from you to the criminals.
- 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.
- +2215959694 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- cheslav-markov@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Markov Cheslav" <cheslav-markov@Safe-mail.net> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:24:25 +0100
Subject: Hello
Hello ,
I am Mr.Markov Cheslav, and I represent Mr. Mikhail Khordokovsky former C.E.O of Yukos Oil Company in Russia. I have a very sensitive and confidential brief from this top
(Oligarch) to ask for your partnership in re-profiling funds US$6 Million. I will give the details, but in summary, the funds are coming via a bank in the U.K .
This is a legitimate transaction.You will be paid 20% for your "Management Fees".
If you are interested, please write back by mail : cheslav-markov@Safe-mail.net and call me on +221 595 9694.Also provide me with your confidential telephone number,
fax number and email address and I will provide further details and instructions.
Please keep this confidential; we can't afford more political problems.
Best regards,
Mr.Markov Cheslav
Anti-fraud resources: