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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Elizabeth" <www.offic@live.com>
Reply-To: <elizabethIwu@mail.mn>
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 06:42:58 +0100
Subject: From Miss Elizabeth Iwu.
My name is Miss Elizabeth Iwu. I am the younger Sister to Professor Maurice Iwu, the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Boss.
My purpose of writing you is this: there is a Business deal of $45Million that is under my Control of which I have done part of it with one Mr. Mohammed Abdul which we agreed that he will take 30% while 70% goes to us.
I have been able to move $20Million to Mr. Mohammed Abdul and he confirmed the said sum of $20Million in his account. But to my greatest surprise, he called me just as I was preparing to go and meet with him in his country and said to me that I should go to hell and that I will never see him or the Fund again. As I speak with you now, he has cut off all communication and I can not reach him again both through Email and Telephone.
The Balance of the Fund which is $25Million is ready to be moved again but I asked my Contact Person in the Bank to stop for now till I get somebody that I can trust when the Fund gets to the person to avoid what happened before not to repeat itself.
I contacted you on this Business deal of $25Million believing that I can trust you when the Fund gets to you and also that you will keep the confidentiality of the Business deal from the beginning till the end. I said so because I don’t want any one to know about the Business deal from both sides till the Fund gets to you because of my position.
If you are Capable of keeping this Fund in your possession till I come over to meet with you for the sharing based on my offer, please let me know and I will also discuss with you the areas of investment as I will like to invest part of my share in your country through your guideline or in your Company if you have.
If I can trust you just as I have explained myself to you then, reply me now with your Company name if any, your full Name and Address with your Confidential Mobile number so that I can furnish you with all the details that you need to know. The Business is 100% risk free.
Have a blessed day
From
Miss Elizabeth Iwu
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