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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:
- "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- mr.davidali@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DAVID ALI <david.ali3@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: mr.davidali@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:40:11 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I salute you
Attention,
My name is David Ali,the personal attorney to Shandy Dickson and I am contacting you in regards to some funds deposited with a bank here in Cote D'Ivoire. by my late Shandy dickson who is now deceased and leaving on known relatives to claim the fund.
After a series of search for a reliable person who I can establish for claim of the fund, I contacted you and my contact with you is based on a legitimate arrangement. This is because it is now my sole responsibility to present any person of my choice in claim.
I am contacting you because i feel i could trust you and the fund in the bank is $7.5million dollars.
Due to the importance of this matter, I would appreciate if you can
write me back to enable me detail you further about this matter.
I do understand that this will sound so skeptical but I assure you that it is legitimate.
Please you are not compelled to proceed with me because I require someone that is highly responsible and trust worthy.
I will not release every information regarding this matter until I hear back from you. Then if I am satisfied I will details you with every information regarding this transaction and also give you more information about myself to enable you have an idea of the person that you are dealing with.
We shall negotiate on the percentage split during our future correspondence.
I await your immediate contact .
Best regards,
Mr.David Ali (Esq).
Email: mr.davidali@hotmail.com
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