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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:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- dougfarms@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Johnson Douglas <dougfarms@gmail.com>
Date: 3 Feb 2012 07:08:53 +0100
Subject: Investment inquiry
My dear
I am Mr Johnson Douglas from Zimbabwe and i wish to know your terms and conditions for joint investment with us and the extent of assistance we can get from you as an individual to secure and invest funds in our disposal at your country.
I will also be glad to know if you will also assist us to relocate and obtain resident papers in your country. I stay here in South Africa with my step mother and two sisters as asylum seekers after the death of my father whom was a strong critic of president Robert Mugagbe back home and whom also made this deposit in First national bank.
I will like to speak with you and will urge you to give me a call on my cell number and also indicate your direct number where i can always keep in steady contact with you as from now until this investment grant is safe in your custody.
I will explain how i got your contact and our expectations once i hear from you.Thanks for your antispacted co-operation and always remain blessed, i will
also urge you to send a copy of your response to my step mother`s e-mail ID so she can also see your assurance to assist us,her email is (dougfarms@gmail.com ).
I await your call.
Yours brother
Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
