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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.
- 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.
- pkwaku931@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Patrick Kwaku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pkwaku931@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 05:03:32 +0100
Subject: HELLO GOOD DAY
Good Day!!
I know this message will come as a surprise to you but I want to guarantee that at the end you will be the one to thank me for asking you to partner me.
I worked as a director at Ghana National Gas Company, where I used my good office to acquire the sum of US$8.5million during my tenure.
Nevertheless, I would like you to stand as the beneficiary of this fund so as to have the fund claimed and wire transfer out of my country without further delay. This is because of my country’s financial control on every serving and ex-government officials.
Our sharing ratio will be agreed upon after you have indicated interest in partnering me in this deal. I will appreciate if you can send me your private telephone numbers for discussion of this offer in more details.
Thank you and looking forward to a prosperous business relationship
between us.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Patrick Kwaku
pkwaku931@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
