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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:
- "urgent business proposition" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 M" <mrcbmuna2@outlook.com>
Reply-To: mrcbmuna1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 04:02:45 +0800
Subject: business co-operation.....Reply Asap..
Hello!
Compliments.
I am a banker; I have an urgent business proposition for you.
I am seeking for investment partner with good business idea to invest in, I wish to establish a lasting JV Partnership
with you and wonder if you have any viable and profitable business idea.
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 my bank,I need your co-operation to establish a lasting
business relationship with you and invest some fund in your economy.
I want to know if you Can you work with me to receive the fund and to properly invest it in your economy or else where?
For your assistance we will share together benefits/profits of the outcome of the investment outfit that we shall
jointly agreed on.
This transaction is 100% RISK FREE and it demands your most priority attention ant utmost trust.
I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you.
Thanks and very best regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Charles Blaise M.
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Anti-fraud resources:
