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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "god fearing " (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 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.
- +447010020178 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "INVESTMENT PROPOSAL--" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr_richarddavid55@w.cn>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 12:24:01 -0400
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL--
Dear
My Name is MR. RICHARD DAVID from the United Kingdom. I am formal Uk Ambassador in Basra Iraq
as United Nations Envoy/Ambassador. I made the sum of $12.5 000.000, 00(
Million, us dollars) in an Oil deal I did with some Iraq citizens.
But I can't move this fund to my country the United Kingdom without been
Question, due to my status as United Nations Ambassador I want to move this
Fund somewhere and invest it. All arrangement is already in place to move this
Fund through a security company we must keep a very low profile of
Communication for security reasons
I am looking for Matured and God fearing personnel to receive this fund on my be
Half, I am
Offering %20 of the total sum and the remaining %80 will be invested in your country and my proposal is to invest on real housing Estate invest and school investment i mean development waiting for your urgent reply soonest, please sends below this information your number and ID proof for started
1 Full Name
2 Age:
3. Sex:
4. Phone number
5. State:
6. country
7,: Scan Copy of your ID Proof: given below
+447010020178
BEST REGARD
MR RICHARD DAVID
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