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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:
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +27716413582 (South Africa, 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.
- hansdukehans2@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Hans Duke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hansdukehans1@avasmail.com.mv>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:08:13 -0700
Subject: FROM MR. HANS DUKE
Compliment of the day
I am Mr. Hans Duke from Zimbabwe. I wish to know your terms and conditions for a joint investment with us and the extent of assistance we can get from you as an individual to secure and invest fund at our disposal in your country. I will also be glad to know if you will assist us to relocate and obtain resident papers in your country.
I stay South Africa with my step mother and two sisters as asylum seekers after the death of my father who was a strong critic to the government of President Robert Mugabe back home. It was my father who made this deposit in one of the leading commercial banks here in South Africa.
I will like to speak to you and will urge you to give me a call on my direct telephone (+27 716413582) and also indicate your direct numbers where I can always keep a steady contact with you until this investment is grant is safely in custody.
I will explain how I got your contact address and our expectations once I hear from you. Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation. I will also wish you send a copy of your response to this request to my step mother's e-mail address so that she can see your assurance to assist us; her e-mail id is :( hansdukehans2@sify.com)
I await your call.
Best Regards,
Mr. Hans Duke
Tel: (+27 716413582
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