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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "million dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sgt Phil Jason" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgt_jphilly@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:40:08 +0100
Subject: Financial Trust Message From Iraq.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Sgt Haberman Phil Jason . I need your help in keeping & Investing the money that we moved from Ba'qubah in Iraq safe in your country.
As you know i am not a businessman and need help in Investing US$45 Million US dollars in any good business idea & venture that you have, due to the financial credit crisis i know my funds will be safer in your hands.As you are very much aware most troops will be leaving Iraq this year A milestone in the completion of the British mission in Iraq is achieved with the handover of Basra International Airport. British troops are to leave Iraq by the end of July this year. Iraq will now take greater control of its own security.
We moved this money and kept it safe here in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, Now that we are handing over Security of the Green Zone to the Iraqis. We need to move the funds now. You know the funds are legal and we got it from selling crude oil at the black market. we want to move the funds from Iraq now to a secure place or location. Can you provide that for us.?
The total amount is US$45M( Forty Five Million US dollars) in cash. This money is in cash and we want to move it to you as soon as possible. Mostly $100 dollar bill notes. Total of US$45 Million dollars. So your share for helping me is US$12.5 Million dollars. Will you help? The whole process is simple and straight forward. I am still in iraq and i will be discharged soon, so we need to move as quickly as possible. I dont want to take any chances of loosing the funds. That is why we must act now.
We are sharing everything 50/50. This is a legitimate transaction. If you are interested, i will provide you further details and instructions. Please keep this Private & confidential.
Can i trust you and will you help?I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Sgt Haberman Phil Jason
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