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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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- marthaosei4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Martha Osei <marthaosei72@gmail.com>
Reply-To: marthaosei4@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:00:42 -0800
Subject: Greetings From Martha
--
Greetings to you.
Please exercise a little patience and read through my proposal for your
understanding" I crave your indulgence as i contact you in such a
surprising manner. But I respectfully insist you read this letter carefully
as I a optimistic it wills open doors for unimaginable financial rewards
for backcloth of us. My name is Mrs Martha Osei, the current Chief Auditor
of a formidable bank here in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa, please
i want you to help me but its base on trust if only you can trust me.
i wish to know if we can work together? i would like you to stand as the
Beneficiary to a deceased customer who made some Deposit sum of 12.5
Millions United State Dollar in my Branch before his Death so i need your
assistance with 100% cooperation to realise this task.i mean we shall share
in Ration of 40% should you be interested.
Further details about the fund, its source and the administrative procedure
to transfer this fund into your receiving bank account shall be made known
to you immediately as I have your
positive response. make sure that you get in touch direct my box please
marthaosei4@gmail.com
Yours With Love Thanks and Regards,
Martha Osei
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Anti-fraud resources:
