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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Phillip Johnson <hr@mail.yamoffice.yam.com>
Reply-To: <phillipjohnson100@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:50:28 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT
Hello,
I write to you based on a request for an investment option in your country by a client of mine. My name is Mr.Phillip Johnson.
I'm a consultant and I engage in business feasibilities. My reason for contacting you is that my client has an urgent need to invest a considerable amount of funds into lucrative opportunities in your country. My client's request is for a competent individual such as you, who will be willing to put this money to good use for a period of 6years for a start.
He is offering you these terms:
1). 15% will be paid to you as an administrator of the total fund to be managed.
2). The fund will be used by you as a foreign Administrator as a loan without any interest.
That is, you do not pay any interest on the money, but you will give him 85% of all profits after tax that will accrue from the use of the fund. If these terms are agreeable to you, kindly get back to me and I will provide you with other necessary information.
Mr.Phillip Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
