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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- muah.jack@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: muah jack <muah.jack53@msn.com>
Reply-To: <muah.jack@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:45:00 +0000
Subject: WE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PRODUCTS
Dear sir/Madam,
We are looking for a reliable suppliers to supply to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS has Published their 2012 Annual Projects, your products will be needed in large quantity.I will appreciate if you Can send me the details/prices of your products by email for my study before applying for you.
I am an accredited Agent registered with ECOWAS on contract allocations, I am entitle to 2% commission from the total contract sum as soon as the total contract fund is paid into your account.
Reply with the product details you can supply from the list and confirm your readiness to bid in the on-going Tender with ECOWAS so that I will give you an idea on how to pursue and win the Contract with ECOWAS.
Their payment method is 80% T/T upfront to your account after the contract is signed between your company and ECOWAS and 20% prior to first shipment.Let me know if you are interested so that we can start negotiating the proceedings.
Reply directly to my email: muah.jack@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Mr. Muah Jack
Director
MBK AGENCY INC
No.11B NEW TOWN
ACCRA-GHANA
Reply directly to my email: muah.jack@yahoo.com
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