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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- frankwalton4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Frank Walton" <alicemutai@mu.ac.ke>
Reply-To: "Mr. Frank Walton" <frankwalton4@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 01:06:11 +0300 (EAT)
Subject:
Attention Email Account Owner,
I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. I'm the Director in charge of a security company here in England. I have decided to contact you for a mutual beneficial transaction with 100% risk free.
In April 2006, Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of Henan-based Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved some cash from Europe to my bank. The fund arrived during the time Lu Yunpeng was been tried for murder in China. As his account officer he instructed that I should put a hold on the fund that was supposed to go to China pending on the outcome of his trial.
In May 2006 he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed till date. As the chief Security officer I was aware that nobody knows about this fund movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death with him.
Please click this link for your own perusal: http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml
I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund by transferring the money to you. I want to work with you on it. The amount involved is US$8.5million united state dollars.
Please reply back and let’s benefit from this golden opportunity. You are my first contact. I shall wait for days and if I do not hear from you, I shall look for another person. Contact me with my Private (frankwalton4@gmail.com)
sincerely,
Mr. Frank Walton
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Anti-fraud resources:
