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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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- kenamadi6894@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Frank Uyi" <giuliocirignaco@alice.it>
Reply-To: kenamadi6894@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 21:41:01 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Contact Mr. Kenneth Now
My dear friend,
I apologize for sending you this information via e-mail instead of a
Certified/Post-mail. I’m here to show my gratitude. You might have remember
an
email from me in the past regarding business transaction proposal which we
never concluded due to one reason or the other best to known at that time.
It's
an opportunity for me to inform you that the transaction was concluded with
help of a Greek merchant who financed it to a logical conclusion. Moreover,
i
appreciate great effort and trust worthiness you showed, and I compensate
you
with $1.7m i want you to accept this token with good faith as this is from
the bottom of my heart.
The fund $1.7m is deposited in a cashier's cheque
contact Mr. Ken for this reference and make further arrangement with
him
for the delivery; contact her today, I instructed him before I traveled
about
it. Forward my mail including your Full name, address and your phone
contacts
for the delivery.
Name: Kenneth Amadi
Email: kenamadi6894@yahoo.com
+22996524160
May God bless you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Frank Uyi
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Anti-fraud resources:
