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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- mrdavidjacob@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.David Jacob" <dj4510776@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrdavidjacob@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2012 04:36:08 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR TRUST
--
Dear Sir,
It is not my intention to introduce myself to you through this unconventional
means,but my considerations was based on speed,reliability and trust.I
got your
email from the online data base.
I am a senior legal consultant and advisor to a popular bank here in
UK which i
will not mention now until i have your support. I write you with all honest
desire to help in assisting me repatriate the sum of GBP15,000,000.00 (Fifteen
Million British Pounds Only) deposited in 2010 by Mr. Henry Bill, who
worked as
consultant with ABC PETROLEUM LIBYA. He is late. He died in August 24th 2011
from the statistic i have of him.
Since then my bank have assigned me to get to his family which i have
tried but
could not locate. More worrisome is the fact that he did not enlist any of his
family members as beneficiary. I have this month to submitte my findings and i
don't want to disclose i was not able to locate his beneficiary or family
member.
I therefore will like you to work with me and i will process papers
showing you
are the beneficiary of the deposited fund and it will be paid to you within 3
working days. I want you to accept this offer without any fear as i am in the
position to disclose who the right beneficiary is to my bank. If you accept
write me back and i will tell you what we will do to accomplish this.
Though i write you hoping we can work together on this. However if you are not
capable please do let me know so i look for alternatives as i do not have much
time on this.Please always contact me on my private email box for security
reason:mrdavidjacob@rocketmail.com
Until i hear from you.
David Jacob
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Anti-fraud resources:
