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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- abdullahsenussiii@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Senussi" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 03:28:40 +0800
Subject: ATTENTION.
How are you today, My name is Mr.Abdullah Senussi from Libya , i am interested in investment opportunity in your country. I have twenty-four million United State Dollars to invest in any profit making business in country.If you can be my representative and invest in your name on my behalf, i am ready to give you a share in the investment of 25%. You can goggle my name to know who i am but my identity has to be kept secret and confidential because of the political heat in Libya right now. Nevertheless, i look forward to hearing from you within the shortest possible time and once more all the necessary document that will be backing up the fund will be provided at the same time. Please reply me on here (AbdullahSenussiii@gmail.com)
Regards.
Mr Abdul Senussi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
