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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.
- 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:
- "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)
- "million british 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)
- 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.
- +447031857785 (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.
- cmrs.vivian@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Vivian Chapman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vivian@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:35:14 -0000
Subject: EagleTrust Bank London.
EAGLE TRUST BANK LONDON
21 Dow-gate Hill London
EC4R 2SB
Tel : +447031857785
Private mail account
Email:cmrs.vivian@yahoo.co.uk
MD:Eagle Trust Bank
London:
Greetings,
I am Mrs Vivian Chapman the managing, Director of Eagle Trust Bank here in London . I am contacting you in connection with the fund totaling (3.8 million pounds) deposited by late Eng.Robert Cooper a national of Canada and a government contractor with the Shell Petroleum Company (SPC) who died of cancer last year.
In his authorization letter issued to our bank management before his death , it was agreed and stated with the bank management that in the event of his death that the bank should release his deposit (3.8 Million British Pounds) to the charity through a Trustee/Caretaker that will get the said fund disbursed to the charity in good faith, so to this effect I want to use this opportunity to contact you by
using my position as the director of the Eagle Trust Bank London to have you appointed and presented as the TRUSTEE/CARETAKER to the late Eng.Robert Cooper so that i can quickly authorize and approve of the fund release to your care.
Once you get the fund received, you will have to part with 1 Million Pounds while I part with 1 Million Pounds . The rest (1.8 Million Pounds) you will then have to disburse to the charity accordingly and in good faith. Looking forward to hear from you as soon as possible Yours
Sincerely
Mrs Vivian Chapman.
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