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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)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million 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)
- 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.
- mike-machi0@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dear Friend;" <info-mplaza@4u.com.gh>
Reply-To: mike-machi0@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 14:22:22 -0000
Subject: Dear Friend,
--
Dear Friend;
My name is Dr. Mike Machi, A banker by Profession and Currently A
Director of Finance Auditing and Accounting Unit in my Bank, Which the
name will giving to you as soon as you respond for security reason.
I get your name and address in my search for a reputable and reliable
person to help me claim the sum of USD$15.6 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS,
Deposited in our Bank by one of our customer Eng. Mueller who die with his
wife and two children on the 21Th day of April 2001 in car clash along
Aflao express road.
Since his death no one has come up as his next of kin and all our efforts
to locate any member of his family immediate family has prove Abortive
that was why I decided to see if I can get anybody who has the same
surname or last name with him via Internet preferably some one of the same
nationality with him which I believe you have all the qualities we need.
Why i am contacting you is to present you to our bank as the next of Kin
to the deceased customer. He was Drilling contractor with some Oil
Companies here in west Africa. So it will be more acceptable and wiser to
present you through paper work to the Bank for claim of the total fund.
I will give you all the necessary requirements that the bank may request
from you and follow up the transfer of the fund into your account as an
Insider. It will interest you to know that I and my partners has been
keeping the account dormant to enable our plans for the funds to come
through and this is the time and we are happy to locate you for the
perfection of the transfer of the Fund into your nominated Bank Account to
be given.
As soon as I get your positive response I will update you about the mode
of disbursement and we will also need to know about investing in your
Country as a way of helping your people who suppose are the original
owners of this Fund, I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible
(mike-machi0@hotmail.com) stating your wish in this deal.
Looking forward to your urgent response by updating me with direct
telephone number for easy communication.
Yours Specially
Dr. Mike Machi.
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