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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "PETER KELVIN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ahmed_mk_elsalab@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 13:59:30 +0100
Subject: Re: We look forward to hearing from you.
Business discuss.
Good day,
I am an Agent to MINISTRY OF FINANCE & ECONOMIC PLANING (MOFEP) of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS). I play an intermediary role between the MOFEP and any interested foreign company in any international competitive Tender.
Been pleased going through your good profile and would like to use this opportunity to inform you that my Senior associate is interested in opening up immediate investment partnership discussion with you.
I wish to know if your company CEO/MD or you as an individual will be interested and able to participate in an international Tender for supply of products and services; also oil n mineral exploration.
If yes, Kindly arrange to send us, by e-mail attachment, more information on all products and services as supplied by you at your earliest.
We shall deploy all resources in our disposal to ensure a successful bidding for your company.
If you are available at this time kindly get back to me immediately I would be pleased to hear from you at the earliest.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Very Sincerely yours,
Mr. Louis Nyandeng
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Anti-fraud resources: