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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)
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447045709908 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- privatefrankjim@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Frank Jim <fjim004@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: frankjim100@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:41:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Important Reply.....
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mr Frank Jim. the Auditor/Computing manager in a Bank. There is a deal of a transfer involving a huge amount £15,000,000.00.(fifteen million pounds sterling).I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice.Thus,For your indulgence and support you will have 25% share of the total amount after the transfer must have been successfully concluded.
Kindly reply me stating your interest,and I shall furnish you with the details and necessary proceedure with which to make the transfer.I anxiously await your response. Kindly reply me at (privatefrankjim@hotmail.com)and call at: +44-7045709908.stating your interest, and I shall send you the details and necessary proceedure with which to make the transfer. I anxiously await your response. If you are interested, call me please.
Thanks and GodBless.
Mr Frank Jim.
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