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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:
- ",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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "service" <service@parasaga.com>
Reply-To: streamcom002@centrum.sk
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 12:07:01 +0200
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED
I am Mr. John .K.Sampson, the managing Director of Streamline Communication here in Ghana.
I want to enquire if you will be willing and ready to take up a contract to supply and Install some computers to some
institutions and Organizations here in the West African sub-region.
.
A friend of mine who happens to be an aide to a former Minister of Finance informed me of the existence of a contract
awarded to his boss, a former Finance Minister and a high profile politician from one of the Countries in the West
African Sub-Region.
He want me to source for a foreign partner who will take up this contract as his boss wants to sub-let it to a
competent foreign supplier.
This contract has a time frame and he needs a serious minded business personality who will meet up with the time.
The value of this contract is US$13,000,000.00 (thirteen million U.S.dollars) only and you will be paid Seventy Five
Percent (75%) of this amount up-front to enable you start and the balance to be paid after the supply and installation
are completed.
Our interest here is for you to accept to over-invoice the prices of the computers with about 25% inflated amount. The
inflated amount would be shared among us, that is between you and us at the ratio of 50% to you and 50% to us. We
guarantee to defend your quoted prices.
You will be ready also to fly down to Accra Ghana to meet the ex-minister to consummate the deal.
Please if you are ready to take up this unique golden opportunity, contact me immediately for further information
through my e-mail address.
Waiting for you reply.
Best regards
John .K. Sampson
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