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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- mr.john_david@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John David" <john------davi4906@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.john_david@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 05:07:22 -0800 (PST)
Subject: REPLY NEEDED
Mr. JOHN DAVID,
ACCOUNT AUDITOR GENERAL.
PHONE: +234 706 467 3510
DEAR FUNDS OWNER,
I WILL LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU, AM MR. JOHN DAVID THE NEW ACCOUNT AUDITOR GENERAL WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ALL FOREIGN FUNDS. I NOTICE THAT UP TILL NOW YOUR FUND HAS NOT YET BEING TRANSFERRED TO YOU NOW I AM WRITING TO KNOW WHY YOU HAVE NOT CLAIM THIS FUND AND ALSO TO IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE THAT YOU HAVE A HUGH AMOUNT OF MONEY HERE WITH US WHICH IS $15 MILLION DOLLARS (FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS).
BUT IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN THIS FUND LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS FUND TRANSFERRED INTO THE GOVERNMENT TREASURY ACCOUNT SOONEST.
PLEASE LET US HEAR FROM YOU BEFORE ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY US OR YOU CAN AS WELL CALL THE NUMBER BELOW SO THAT MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU ON HOW YOU ARE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
AWAITING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION.
BEST REGARDS,
Mr. John David.( Account Editor)
E-mail:mr.john_david@hotmail.com
PHONE: +234 706 467 3510
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Anti-fraud resources:
