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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:
- "% will be 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- tobybutlerconsultant@aol.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Alima Xian" <info@ofhsn.com>
Reply-To: tobybutlerconsultant@aol.co.uk
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:21:55 +0000
Subject: Happy new year
Hello friend,
I know this email will surprise you. Please accept my offer for charity plans. I am a Syrian citizen. I was married to the director of (XIANYUI SEAFOOD LTD) in China and Cambodia. I am writing from one of the main hospital in Aleppo here in Syria. I have a contract for you. I and my husband came from Cambodia 2011 February to setup our company branch in Syria before the war arises. I and my entire family were bombarded by the Syria regime soldiers. I lost my husband and my children. I am the only surviving person in the family. I am seriously wounded with the hope I may not survive this severe injury according to the doctors. I don't know what may happen to me from this time. I decided to use the hospital’s computer and search for somebody with good heart to help me organize a foundation that will be named XIAN FOUNDATION for the Syrian refugees, motherless, less privileged and the widows in your country. I pray Allah to help us.
Presently I can't receive any calls for now or to reply your mail. If you are interested to help me for this charity organization in your country, I will offer you £22.5 million. 40% will be for you, while the other funds should be used for the charity organization. Please feel free to contact my lawyer in charge of the funds. He will direct YOU to the bank and arrange the transfer documents of the funds from my account to your preferred account as the beneficiary of my funds. My lawyer’s contact is stated below;
Name: Attorney Toby Butler
E-mail: tobybutlerconsultant@aol.co.uk
Please note that my lawyer will check on you as a trustee to make sure the funds is utilized according to my last wish. Without your reply in a short while, I will source for another person who will make use of this opportunity before is too late for me.
Remain blessed.
Alima Xian
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Anti-fraud resources:
