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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- homodd@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Hameed Mahmoud" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <homodd@indiatimes.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:54:07 -0800
Subject: CONTRACT SUPPLY NEEDED
Dear Sir/Ma,
To introduce our selves to you, we are transitional Government of Benghazi Libya contract committee for contractors/suppliers/manufacturers exporters representatives in Libya. Presently we are actively engaged in sourcing for individuals,companies and organizations to supply us with various goods and items for the reconstruction of transitional Government of Benghazi Libya.
Contract supply to the transitional Government of Benghazi Libya.Our recent expansion and desire to promote trade and industrial link as afforded us the opportunity to contact you,for an urgent contract supply of various goods and items for the transitional Government of Benghazi Libya.
If you can supply us with various items and goods do not hesitate to inform us by mail,so we can direct you to our Offshore Recommendation Centre Based in the heart of middle-east,for an urgent supply.
The O.S.R.C was setup because most of our suppliers find it hard travelling to Libya to complete the contract fomalities.Looking forward to hear from you.
All further response to this proposal should be communicated to this private mail:homodd@indiatimes.com.
Yours faithfully
Mr.Hameed Mahmoud
For: Transitional Committee Government Benghazi Libya
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Anti-fraud resources:
