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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 message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- alberthrrsn@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Albert Harrison <alberthrrsn@yahoo.com>
Date: 18 Oct 2011 00:15:57 +0800
Subject: Re: YOUR BUSINESS PLAN/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS NEEDED FOR FUNDING
Attention: Sir/Madam,
We are Aspect Investments Limited and are situated in the United Kingdom. We specialize in searching for potential investments for our high net-worth clients worldwide.
Our visualization is based upon securing and safe guarding our client's interests in order to achieve the maximum return on their investments.
We have recently received a request from one of our client based here in the UK. They are currently looking for a profitable project to invest funds into that will generate a substantial profit.
We have examined your company's profile on the Angel network and consider you to fit our criteria provisionally.
We need your executive summary to process your funding.
Should these be of interest to you, please do not hesitate to e-mail us for further information; we take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to read the contents of this email.
Kind regards,
Albert Harrison.
Email: alberthrrsn@yahoo.com
Website: www.aspectinvestments.co.uk
Tel: (+44)07035914514
Aspect Investments Limited
41 Park Parade Harlesden London NW10 4JE
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Anti-fraud resources: