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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:
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "amsterdam holland" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Muammar Gaddafi <abohjohn78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: chrisezeupdate@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:46:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: My name is Saadi the son of Muammar Gaddafi the late president of Libya
Attention Sir/Madam,
Â
My name is Saadi the son of Muammar Gaddafi the late president of Libya I am writing you this business proposal regarding the $26.5M dollars which my father deposited in Security Company in Amsterdam Holland for safe keeping before he was killed by the Libya people because of the war he has course in our country Libya now my father is dead including my mother and my brothers.
I am the only person is alive in the family where I am now I am in a hideout because I was declare wanted by Libyan government However, I am contacting you to assist me to move the fund out to your designated account for future investment I don’t have any access to communicate with you in the phone because of were I am If you willing to access me receive the $26.5M dollars.
I will give you my lawyer contact so that you can contact him he base in London all the document for the releasing of the fund will be process by my lawyer on your name as soon as the document is ready my lawyer will send it to you. This transaction is 100% risk free and we have to respect the utmost confidentiality of it as we are the only people aware of the contents in the boxes.
As soon as you successfully receive the $26.5M dollars I will offer you 40% of the total sum why 10% for any expenses and 50% will be my owe share as soon as you have accepted to assist me claim this fund from the safe house. I will change all the documents to your name thereby making you the designate beneficiary of the fund
you are to send the following information:
1. Full Name:
2. Current Address:
3. Valid Telephone Number:
4. Company Name:
with all these information provided, my lawyer would be able to process the documents in your name for the claiming of the fund.  if you are interested in this proposal, please reply me as a matter of urgency.
Â
Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you and GOD bless.
  Â
Best Regards
Saadi Gaddafi
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