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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:
- "million 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)
- 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.
- drkoffmensah@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Koffi Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drkoffmensah@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:21:53 -0800
Subject: RE:Foreign Investor
RE: Strictly Confidential
Good Day!!
I am one of the Director of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. I have used my Good Office to acquire the sum of US$25 million during my tenure as stated herein. The aforementioned Funds were deposited with Fidelity Bank LTD Ghana waiting for foreign business partner that will assist me to invest the fund oversea.
This is because of my Country’s Financial Control on every Serving and Ex-Government Officials. Our sharing ratio should you wish to Partner with me is 50:50%. 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.
PLEASE IF YOU’RE NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING $25 MILLION DOLLARS PLEASE DON'T REPLY.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Koffi Mensah
NB: Please reply with my Private Email: drkoffmensah@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
