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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 us 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (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.
- 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.
- williamwallace@web2mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Gen. William S. Wallace (RET)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <genwwallace@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:19:45 -0400
Subject: Need your urgent assistance (Are you trustworthy?)
My name is General William S. Wallace, the former United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
Actually, I acquired 17.3 Million US Dollars from an oil business I did in Iraq with an Iraqi citizen.
I need a good partner who I can trust to assist me in receiving the consignment on my behalf.
All arrangement to bring out the consignment from Iraq have being concluded with a United Nations
diplomat. I need someone who can receive it since I cannot receive it directly due to my status.
I am offering you 20% of the total sum for your assistance and the 80% will be transferred to my account
which I will instruct you in my next email to you on how it will be transferred to my account.
Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place where the funds can be sent to.
If you are interested I will furnish you with more details. But the whole process is simple and
we must keep a low profile at all times.
The best mode of communication to me is through email. I look forward to your reply and co-operation,
and I thank you in advance as I anticipate your co-operation waiting for your urgent response.
Thanks for your understanding.
Best Regard,
Gen William S. Wallace (RET)
(williamwallace@web2mail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
