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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" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- +447024095545 (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.
- chpuiconfidential50@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "dgranai1847" <dgranai1847@howardcc.edu>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:49:56 -0400
Subject: business proposal
I am Dr David Pui, a staff of CITI BANK PLC,UK .I am seeking your
assistance in a legitimate business transaction running into $2.5
million USD. For further details as to the work ability of this transaction.
Please write back by on my personal email:chpuiconfidential50@yahoo.com.hk
And provide me with your name,sex, age, occupation, confidential
telephone number, fax number ,your country, email address, home address
and annual income and I will provide further details and
instructions.Please keep this confidential; we can't afford more
political problems.I shall however leave out the final details of this
transaction till I receive an affirmation of your desire to participate.
Please do not overlook this email.
My telephone numbers;
+44 702 409 5545
+44 702 409 6514
Sincerely Dr David Pui
Anti-fraud resources: