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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 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.
- kevinyoung147@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ''OWEN'' <xx3@office525.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <kevinyoung147@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2014 11:26:17 +0530
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
Dear friend,
Compliment and greetings of the day!
I am Kevin Young, researcher/consultant of pharmaceutical product working with a pharmaceutical company here in London. I came across your e-mail contact during a comprehensive web research in Indian sites and its my pleasure to contact you for a mutual business relation and I wish this mail will find you in good health and prosperity!I have a business offer which I would like to share with you for a clear understanding and adequate collaboration, hope you will find it extremely reasonable. I do visit India previously, in respective of purchasing some local Herbal materials for productions in our company when I was working under the procuring department. I was promoted in our company as the new production supervisor and I will no longer visit India to purchase those materials by myself due to my promotion but our management has assigned a new staff whom will be coming to India any moment from now in other to purchase the same materials from the same source. I will give you more details about this product and also the reason why i needed your attention as soon as I see your response through my personal email address bellow and i will furnish you with every details and procedures. Furthermore, should in case you have interest of corporation, do not hesitate to send your personal details to further our communications.
Anticipate hearing from you!
Best Regards
Mr. Kevin Young.
Email:kevinyoung147@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
