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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.
- 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)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- eddyharper305@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: kelvin richmond <kelvinrichmond77@yahoo.pt>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 20:08:25 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: GOOD NEWS
 Attention:My Dear.
I write to inform you that i have your Certified Bank Draft here in my office to send to you as directed by my boss based on your past
assistance to him during the period he was seeking for the release of his funds.
I have been waiting for you since to contact me on how i will deliver the Bank Draft of Five Million Dollars ($5 Million Dollars) to your
mailing address but did not hear from you for a long time now.
Well, i want you to know that i have deposited the Bank Draft with Zenith Bank because i have traveled to London England for my
annual leave and will not come back till ending of December 2014.
So now i have arranged with Zenith Benin-Republic to pay you with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your
money in any ATM MACHINE around the globe/world and what you will be withdrawing Daily is $8,000 Dollar's per day because the
Bank Draft will be expiring soon.
Please kindly contact the bank manager with your full contact information's such as follows:
Full Name:............................
Home/Office Address:..................
Phone/Mobile:.........................
Here is the private contact information of the bank manager.
Mr.Eddy Harper
E-Mail:eddyharper305@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks and be blessed with your good fortune.
Mr.Eddy Harper
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