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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)
- ",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)
- "billsmith.moneysharkloanagency@hotmail.com" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- 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.
- +447045741889 (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.
- billsmith.moneysharkloanagency@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Money Shark Loan Agency <info@loan.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: billsmith.moneysharkloanagency@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:07:40 -0800
Subject: Urgent Notificaion !!!
Dear Sir/Madam
We Offer Private, Commercial and Personal Loans with very Minimal annual
Interest Rates as Low as 3% within a 1 year to 50 years repayment duration
period to any part of the world. We give out loans within the range of $5,000
to
$100,000,000 USD. Our loans are well insured for maximum security is our
priority.
Note that interested person should reply to this email below
Lender's Name: MONEY SHARK LOAN AGENCY
Lender's Email: billsmith.moneysharkloanagency@hotmail.com
Tel: +44-704-574-1889
www.moneyshark.co.uk
BORROWERS INFORMATION
Names:
Country:
Address:
Age:
Fax Number:
Personal Number:
Occupation:
Sex:
Monthly Income:
Amount Needed:
Loan duration:
Brief description of individual:
Best Regards
Bill smith.
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