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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: mr.randy hennis zoma <randy0_zoma20.8@msn.com>
Reply-To: mr.randyzoma@voila.fr
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:18:55 +0100
Subject: Thanks and best regards.
Dear Friend,
How are you? I want to inquire from you if you can handle a transaction for mutual benefits/life opportunity for you and me. I am Mr. Randy Hennis Zoma; The Chief International Relation Foreign Remittance Unit of my bank here in Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Branch.
I Have an Opportunity to the Sum of Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$15.500.000.00), to transfer into your bank account over there in your country. I will provide the full details of this business transaction when once we known each other as business with trust. I personally will contact you and you alone.
The fund will be shared at the ratio of 58% for me. 40% for you and 2% will be set aside to cover any expenses and tax in your bank.
Please treat this business proposal with utmost confidentiality and send me the following Information's if you are interested.
Your Full Name: ...................................
Your Address: .......................................
Your Age: ..............................................
Your Direct Phone Numbers: ......................
Your Country: ..............................................
Your Profession: ..........................................
Your Sex: ...............................................
Thanks and best regards.
Mr. Randy Hennis Zoma. M.sc (ECONS)
House Phone: 00226 71359636
Mobile: 00226 70568795
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Anti-fraud resources:
