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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:
- "urgent business proposition" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Mohamed Idriss" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mohamed.idiris@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:58 -0000
Subject: Assalam alaikum
Assalam alaikum and may the peace of gracious Allah be with you,please I have an urgent business proposition i which to bring to your kind attention.I mustered a lot of courage to write and open up to you.
My Name is Mr.Mohamed Idriss. I am writing from Ivory Coast-West Africa. I am a staff of one of the biggest Bank here in my country.
I want to wire $15, 300,000.00 (Fifteen Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars) that has been in a dormant account for the past 15 years in my Branch to your account abroad. The account owner is dead with his next of kin since 1997. Get back to me for more details if you are interested to receive the inheritance fund.
In summary,i have all the necessary documents pertaining the account.I only needed a serious and faithful partner to associate with.At the logical conclusion of the fund transfer to your norminated account.You will be entitled to 35% of the total fund for your active participation while 5% will represent all the transactional expenses.The remaining 60% will be for me and my colleagues.
Happy happy year,
Thanks
Mr.Mohamed Idriss.
0022507297297
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Anti-fraud resources:
