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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)
- "to 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 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. ROBERT WILSON" <web.anythroste@yahoo.co.th>
Reply-To: "MR. ROBERT WILSON" <stephanie.adams86@yahoo.com.co>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 04:39:06 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: I am Mr. Robert Wilson,
Dear Friend,
I hope this letter reaches you in good health and a happy mood. I am Mr. Robert Wilson, a credit manager of Agricultural Development Bank . I need your assistance in executing a business. It involves the transfer of US$18.4 Million dollars. This funds is lying in a dormant account in our bank and is about to be returned to the National Treasury by the end of the year.
I shall perfect all legal documents in your name to make you the legal beneficiary of the funds if you accept to be my business partner in this venture. Once the funds are transferred to your nominated bank account we will share the proceeds in a ratio of 65% for me, 30% for you and 5% for expenses.
If you are interested and wish to have further details about this transaction kindly respond by sending the following information.
1. Your full names as they appear on your international passport or Identity document
2. Your home and Postal addresses
3. Your direct personal mobile phone and private fax numbers
4. Date of birth and
5. Sex and Marital Status
6. Occupation and Position
7. Nationality
This is a secret deal and I require utmost confidentiality.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Robert Wilson.
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