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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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- suleiman_al_abbas@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Suleiman Al Abbas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <suleiman_al_abbas@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2014 19:00:58 -0800
Subject: MY SINCERE OFFER
Dear My Friend
This letter might come to you as a surprise but it is coming with the best of intentions and will be of mutual benefit to all parties involved. I am Mr. Suleiman Al Abbas the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister of Syria Arab Republic. I know people all over the world is against what president (Bashar al-Assad) is doing. I have talked with him in several occasions and because of that he has threatened to destroy my entire family because I never supported his action from the day one.
Now i need to move my family out of my country vicinity and I know your country is a place where my family will be safe even if I could make it out alive. Please i will beg of my manners because i won't be able to give you full details now pending when you have accepted my proposal.
My proposal to you is to help me receive funds to your country safely! The fund in question is a total of $5, 200, 000, 00 (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in $100 bills and stashed in one metalic box and was shipped out of Syria through a diplomatic means by a special diplomat.
The Diplomat will work according to our instruction to move the cash box to you successfully, You will have 20% of these funds to yourself and the remaining 80% should be invested in your country under your supervision.
NOTE: There is no risk involved in this project, its 100% risk free without any liens orencumbrances. Please all i need is your trust to manage the funds for my family pending our arrival. Please you should keep this transaction a top secret as we are prepared to do more business with you but your approach towards this project will determined.
Please kindly reply me on my private email as follow - (suleiman_al_abbas@yahoo.co.jp)
I await your urgent response.
Thanks.
Regards,
Mr. Suleiman Al Abbas.
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