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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- garyhanson@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Gary Hanson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <garyhanson@london.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:32:22 -0700
Subject: Invistment Proposal
Greetings,
I am Dr. Gary Hanson, from America, representing the interest of an investor seeking for your co-operation in building and acquiring Properties or Real Estate in your country.
However I need an experienced develop the project.
On the resumption of the project, you will be made a Director for the role and the help you rendered. You will also be entitled to a percentage agreed upon between us. In other words, you will have 30% then 70% will be for us.
Your immediate reply will be highly appreciated and I shall give you more information concerning this project.
NOTE: THE INVESTOR'S REPRESENTATIVE WILL ARRIVE TO MEET WITH YOU AS SOON AS WE BOTH REACH AN AGREEMENT.{garyhanson@london.com}.
Dr. Gary Hanson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
