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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. OGILE BEN" <ogileben@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: ogileben@voila.fr
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 01:37:47 -0500
Subject: OUR MUTUAL BUSINESS UNDERSTANDING
Dear Friend.
My name is Mr. Ogile Ben, an Accountant with a bank in west Africa. I will
like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of US$16.5
Million. I got your contact from the Internet on my search for Honest/
Reliable person or company to execute this business together.
SUBJECT: After due consideration, I have fully agreed to privately invest
extensively in a very business venture. I am intending to retire from
government services to private business I decided to contact you for an
urgent business proposal. I have decided to deal with a neutral person
like you because of the nature of the transaction as I will equally be
happy to arrange with you on terms of trade and possible transfer of the
funds needed for the investment into your company’s account or personal
account.
To enable me start the process and remittance of the fund into your bank
account successfully within 7 banking days, I need the following
information from you by e-mail:
1.Full name:
2.Address:
3.Country:
4. Private cell phone:
5. Occupation:
6. Age.
Note that as soon as I receive this information i forwarded it the
appropriate departments for final processing and approvals. With the
modalities I have worked out to makes it possible for you to act as the
next of kin to my late customer whose account is presently dormant for
claims who died 10 years ago with his family in a car accident.
This transfer is 100% risk free having done all the underground works
locally for the smooth transfer of the fund into your bank account within
the shortest period. I advised that you should keep this transaction a top
secret and rest all correspondence to e-mail or phone only, because I am
occupying a sensitive position in the government circle and also this is
once in a lifetime opportunity.
Finally I want you to assure me that you will work on my instruction and
my own share of the money will be safe. You will be rewarded with {40%
which is 6.6 million} of the total sum for your honest assistance and
co-operation, {60% which is 9.9 Million} remain for me.
Contact me by return mail for any question and further discussion .
Awaiting your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mr.Ogile Ben
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