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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million 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)
- "liberia" (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.
- 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.
- munamohad@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS MUNA MOHAMMED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <munamohad0@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 05:04:55 +0530
Subject: Good-Day Dear Friend
Dear my good Friend,
Good day to you, I am so sorry for sending you this unsolicited and unexpected mail.
I got your contact from a Business Directory in my agents office and I decided to contact you directly for the sake of business.
My full Name is Mrs Muna Mohammed from Liberia, I am with my late husband's financial adviser and my son lbrahim now searching for a reliable and experience business partner.
We are ready to invest in any area you suggests to us considering the fact that you are experienced in that area to avoid loosing the fund after investment because our reasons for choosing you as a full participating foreign partner is for clear direction so that we can invest and make good profits.
I have about $7.3 Million Dollars and I would need your assistance in investing it either in your country or any country of your choice under your guidance.
So I am only soliciting for your assistance to help me to invest it.
My Business is totally free of risk and trouble. I ask that if you find no interest in this project that you should discard this mail.
I ask that you do not be vindictive and destructive. If my offer is of no appeal to you,delete this message and forget It ever contacted you.
If you are willing to invest in this business, please give me your confidential contact phone number so that we can discuss on how to see face to face and discuss more in details.
Thank you once again for your interest and waiting for your reply. Email= munamohad@hotmail.com
Best Regards,
Mrs Muna Mohammed.
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