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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)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "habib_habib10@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ahmed Ghazi (Egypt)" <ahmedghazi76@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: habib_habib10@ymail.com
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 04:03:04 +0300 (EEST)
Subject: Ahmed ghazi (Egypt)
Dear Friend
My mail might have come to you as a suprise,please I am a former personal
assistant to the former Egyptian interior minister Habib el-Adly.I helped
in depositing about 28 million U.S dollars with a private deposit firm in
three trunk boxes cash.We deposited it as valuable
antiques/treasure.please I want us to move that funds to your country for
safe custody and investment,we shall give you 40% of the said funds we
shall prepare all required documents for you to file in as depositors heir
or next of kin.This transaction must be kept secret because of my ex- boss
present situation.you can read the link below.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_arrests_3
As soon you respond I shall give you all required details for you to help
us file claim and receive the consignments.please this should be kept
secret.If you can help please send me the following info so that we can
commence all neccesary documents in your details.
Name..
Nationality..
Age.....
Phone .....
Your sincerely
Please reply :habib_habib10@ymail.com
Ahmed ghazi
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