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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)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "central bank of nigeria" (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.
- hassan_alwanali01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Hassan Alwan Ali" <salim97865209@gmail.com>
Reply-To: hassan_alwanali01@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 07:30:38 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend.
Dear Friend,
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not
known or met before now, but please, I would like you to treat it like
blood brother affair and with the urgency and secrecy it requires. I
am Mr. Hassan Alwan Ali, an Audit staff of (C.B.N) Central Bank of
Nigeria.
An investor (name with-held) died without naming any next of kin to
his fund he deposited in my bank. The amount is $10.5M (Ten Million
Five hundred Thousand Dollars) and banking regulation/legislation in
Nigeria demands that I should notify the fiscal authorities after
three years.
The above set of facts underscores my reason to seek your permission
to have you stand in as the next of kin to the deceased.
This fund will be approved and released in your favour as the next of
kin if only you will adhere to my instruction and cooperate with me in
one accord.
I have all the legal and banking details of the deceased client that
will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of
the funds and ultimately transfer of the $10.5M plus interest to any
bank account nominated by you.
I am prepared to compensate you with a 35% share of the total funds
for your efforts. The final details will be given upon receipt an
affirmation of your desire to participate.
Please contact me immediately on (hassan_alwanali01@yahoo.com) if you
are interest in my proposal to enable me not to start scouting for
another foreign partner.
Thanks,
Mr. Hassan Alwan Ali.
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Anti-fraud resources:
