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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)
- 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.
- murhaf.ghazwan@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Ghazwan Murhaf" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <murhaf.ghazwan@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 23:05:41 +0700
Subject: HELLO FRIEND
Dear Friend,
Complement of the day to you and your love ones
I hope my email will arrive to you at good time.
My name is(Dr.Ghazwan Murhaf) from Damascus Syria.
I am 64 years old and retired. I was former personal investor & financial consultant advisers to
a Top Politician here in SYRIA.
Why I'm contacting you is to know if we can have a personal conversation.
Whatever truth you may brief me will be highly recommended.
Tell me more about your country, how good it will be to invest in your country.
Such as buying of properties, or real estate and some tourist places or any profitable investment venture that will yield good profit.
I will appreciate whatever result you may brief me.
Do let me know your idea and knowledge regarding this or any other profitable investment venture you may suggest.
I have a substantial amount and I am willing to order the transfer of the money to you for investment if you’re interested with my proposal.
In my next mail I will explain the full details of the project and interest, and then we reach an agreement on what will be your share from the money or investment.
I shall tell you more about myself when I read from you.
You may as well tell me little more about yourself when replying.
Waiting for your reply.
EMAIL CONTACT (murhaf.ghazwan@yahoo.com)
Thanks and best regards,
(Dr.Ghazwan Murhaf).
Damascus,Syria: 6:15 AM
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Anti-fraud resources:
