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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- ",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 next of kin scam.
- 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.
- ahmad.abbas@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ABBAS AHMAD" <m.bernardi@comune.pisa.it>
Reply-To: ahmad.abbas@accountant.com
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 11:29:22 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Hello Good Day,
I have a Business transaction, and I want you to please indicate your
interest to receive the transfer of ($ 14,000,000.00) Fourteen Million
Dollars.
Your duty is to stand as the next of kin or business partner to the late
customer whose account is presently dormant under my custody.
PERCENTAGE SHARING:
Note that 30% will be your share in respect of your assistance to transfer
this fund to your country.
My share is 20% being the pioneer of this transaction.
50% will used to install a joint business investment in your country
which will bear our names as investment partners.
Kindly send me your personal information listed below to enable us
commence this transaction immediately.
1. YOUR FULL NAMES................
2. YOUR ID CARD...................
3. YOUR PERSONAL MOBILE PHONE NUMBER........
4. YOUR ADDRESS..............
5. YOUR COUNTRY..............
6. YOUR OCCUPATION...................
7. YOUR PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS.......
Thanks for your co-operation.
ABBAS AHMAD
Reply Urgently Private Email.. ( ahmad.abbas@accountant.com )
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