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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)
- "hundred thousand us 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.
- michael.gogba@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MICHAEL GOGBA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michael.gogba@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2015 17:55:56 -0700
Subject: Meilleures Salutations
FROM: MICHAEL GOGBA
EMAIL: michael.gogba@yahoo.com
16th October, 2015
Dear Friend,
I am Michael Gogba .I want to invest in your country this Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand US dollars. I am looking for a good person to help me.
I want to transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as Real Estate management am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways to serve as a guardian.
To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to help me invest the money in a profitable ventures I am only 20years old and I am prepared to give you Thirty Percent of the total amount as commission for assisting me and Five Percent for expenses that will be incurred.
Best Regards
MICHAEL GOGBA
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Anti-fraud resources:
