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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Malik Ayuba" <dr_malikayuba@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: chembers.secretary@msn.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:48:07 -0300
Subject: Your Compensation
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds
transferred under the cooperation of my new partner Mr.Usman sule from
Denmack. Presently i'm in Denmack for investment projects with my partner.
Meanwhile,I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in
transferring those funds.
I appreciate your efforts ,contact my secretary,ask her to send you the
cheque of usd $500.000.00 five hudred thausand dollars which i kept for
you as compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist us in
this matter.Contact her immediately through this( Email:
chembers.secretary@msn.com ) ( Tel: +229 98270441 ) and send your full
names, complete postal mailing address and telephone number to her.
I could not send you the cheque my self because I really needed to leave
the country with my family. So feel free and get intouched with my
secretary and instruct her where to send the check to you.
Do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy
after all the sufferness at that time. At the moment, I am very busy here
because of the investment projects which I and my new partner are having
at hand.
Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary in the
person of Mrs.Kate Paulson and mr.Ibrahim on your behalf to ensure you
receive your cashier bank draft.
Yours sincerely.
Malik
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