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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- van_saun_bruce@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BRUCE VAN SAUN <bog---------01@att.net>
Reply-To: van_saun_bruce@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 08:43:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject:
DEAR FRIEND,
KINDLY ASSIST IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE MILLION,EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS STIRRINGS (125.8M.GBPS)ONLY, IF YOU KNOW THE MONEY WILL BE SAFE TILL I COME FOR MY SHARE.
DETAILS OF THE TRANSFER WILL BE GIVEN ONCE YOU REPLY ON TRUST.
I need your candid assistance on this transfer. I am Bruce Van Saun i worked with RBS Bank as a finance director until l had a problem with the bank because i diverted some fund from the Bank Treasury and i was suspended from the bank.
Though i was able to moved this money to a security firm for a security reason without there knowledge.I decided to contact you from my private e-mail. I want you to work with me in good faith, in actualizing this funds in your care for us to invest together in your country because i do not want the bank to notice that am the one who diverted this fund from the Bank Treasury account.
Please I do not want to jeopardize the success of this action which means so much to me at the moment. I believe we will come to a successful conclusion In the nearest possible time.It will also required that you keep this transaction confidential for security reasons.
Thank you and waiting to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Bruce V.Saun
Group Finance Director (RBS).
Private Email: van_saun_bruce@yahoo.co.uk
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