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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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- mrmarkben007@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Susan leo <officefile20221@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Mrs Susan leo <mrmarkben007@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 15:22:53 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: WE NEED YOUR URGENT RESPOND FOR PAYMENT SUM OF $1,500.000
 Dear friend,
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from Japan. Presently I am in Japan for investment projects.
I have not forgotten your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.
Now, I am given you this sums due to your previous effort you participated. You will need to contact my secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic.
NAME: MR.MARK BEN
EMAIL: ( mrmarkben007@hotmail.com )
PHONE: +22968684930
Ask him to send you the total sum of $1,500.000(One Million Five hundred thousand dollar) it is in an ATM CARD, which I kept for your compensation.
Please make sure you fill this bellow information and send to him.
1. FULL NAMES:___
2. ADDRESS:__
3. AGE:___
4. OCCUPATION:__
5. TELEPHONENUMBER:_
6.COUNTRY:____
Regards,
MRS. Susan LeoÂ
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Anti-fraud resources:
