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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)
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "30% for you " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- edwardkwame30@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Edward Kwame <mredward023@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edwardkwame30@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 15:42:37 +0000
Subject: Dear friend
Dear friend
*My Name is Mr. Edward Kwame the group chief executive director of a Bank
here which I wish to transfer and invest my own share of fund in your
organization and country which will be 30% for you and 70 % for me.*
* I discovered that my branch in which I am the Chief Auditor had Seven
Million three hundred thousand us dollars (7.3 Million USD) of which no
body/staff or director is aware of and will never be aware of, I have also
placed this fund on SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.*
* As the member of the bank Directors, I cannot be directly connected to
this fund thus I am compelled to request for your assistance to receive
this fund into your bank account.*
* I will compensate you with 30% as gratification while 70% will be for
me. Please if you accept my offer, kindly contact me on my private email
contact (edwardkwame30@yahoo.com <edwardkwame30@yahoo.com>) for more
details.*
*In course of this transaction, there are practically no risk involve
because it will be a bank-to-bank transfer. I will appreciate your timely
response.*
*Regards,*
*Mr. Edward Kwame *
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