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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "michelle.oceanfinanceloan@live.co.uk" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
- "michelle.oceanfinanceloan@live.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447035901864 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: michelle.oceanfinanceloan@live.co.uk
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:03:19 -0300
Subject: Apply For Ocean Finance Loan
Dear Sir/Madam,
We Offer Private, Commercial and Personal Loans with very Minimal annual
Interest Rates as Low as 3% within a year to 50 years repayment duration
period to any part of the world.
We give out loans within the range of $5,000 to $50,000,000 USD.Our loans
are well insured for maximum security is our priority.Interested applicants
should Contact us with the information below via email:
-------------------------------------
OCEAN FINANCE LOAN FIRM.
E-MAIL: michelle.oceanfinanceloan@live.co.uk
ADRRESS: Tamworth, B77 5BR
Tell: +(44)7035901864
------------------------------------
BORROWERS INFORMATION:
Names:
Country:
Address:
Age:
Personal Number:
Occupation:
Sex:
Amount Needed:
Loan duration:
Brief description of individual:
Online Officer
Mr.Michelle Dewberry.
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Anti-fraud resources:
