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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:
- "dear friend" (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.
- 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: "Mr.Ahmed Ibrihim" <ahmedibrihim008801@att.net>
Reply-To: officessss99001@att.net
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2010 04:52:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MY GOOD FRIEND
DEAR FRIEND.
THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE. HOWEVER,IT'S JUST MY
URGENT NEED FOR FOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION. I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM YAHOO TOURIST SEARCH WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER. I ASSURED OF YOUR CAPABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO CHAMPION THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WHEN I PRAYED TO GOD OR ALLAH ABOUT YOU.
I AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM NIGERIA AND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF ASSISTANT FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIRECTOR IN OUR BANK. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERRING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS ($20.8 MILLION DOLLARS) OF ONE OF MY BANK CLIENTS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON 31 JULY 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH.
YOU CAN CONFIRM THE GENUINE OF THE DECEASED DEATH BY CLICKING ON THIS WEB SITE http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm
HENCE, I AM INVITING YOU FOR A BUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE
SHARED BETWEEN US IN THE RATIO OF 60/40 IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRANSFER WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER.
TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR FULL NAME,YOUR FULL ADDRESS,YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER,YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
YOURS,
MR AHMED IBRIHIM
234-80-39248185
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