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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:
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "sjohnson1@cc-inc.biz" (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: "Concepts Consulting" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sjohnson1@cc-inc.biz>
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 15:13:00 -0400
Subject: Job Position
My Name is Sky Johnson and I am Your Group Regional
Instructor for Concepts Consulting Inc. In USA.
Henceforth. We Are Looking For Secret Shopper's Around
Your City And Your Wage Is $200 Per Assignment.
ASSIGNMENT PACKET :
Before Any assignment We Would Provide You With The
Resources Needed {CASH} Mostly our Company Would Send You
Check Or Money Orders which you can cash and use for the
Assignment.
But you will follow every single information given to you
as a secret shopper. So if you are interested
KINDLY SEND YOUR INFORMATION BELOW TO PROCEED ON FIRST
ASSIGNMENT:
Full Legal Name :
Address ( NO PO BOX ):
City :
State :
Zip code :
Age:
Home Number:
Cell Number:
Regards,
Sky Johnson
Concepts Consulting Inc
sjohnson1@cc-inc.biz
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Anti-fraud resources: