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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Charles Blaise Munach <ktt1923@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrcbmuna2@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 16:21:28 +0200
Subject: I have a business proposition for you.
Hello!
Compliments.
I am an Investment Banker; and I have a business proposition for you.
I am seeking for investment partner with good business idea to invest in
and wonder if you have any viable profitable business idea to invest in.
If you have a solid background and idea of making good profit in any
business sector in your country, Please write me for possible business
co-operation.
Based on the outcome of the meeting of the board of directors of our
banking Group, I need your co-operation to transfer and invest some fund in
your economy.
I want to know if you Can you work with me to receive the fund in your
account and to properly invest it in your economy or else where?
With your assistance we shall properly invest the full FUND in any viable
investment sector to be jointly agreed on and share on the PROFITS.
This transaction is 100% RISK FREE.
I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you.
Thanks and very best regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Charles Blaise Munach.
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Anti-fraud resources: