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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- aishagaddafi139@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ayesha Gaddafi" <ayisargadafi@puntoguia.com>
Reply-To: aishagaddafi139@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:27:59 -0600
Subject: Business Proposal!
Hello
I am Dr. Aisha Gaddafi the daughter of Col. Muammar Gaddafi, the
murdered president of Libya. I am currently residing in Oman but
unfortunately as a fugitive.
I have huge amount of money deposited secretly in private safe boxes
with a security and courier company, one of these boxes of 5 Million
dollars would be transferred to you for a safe keeping at an
offer of 25% ownership of the funds to you as your share capital.
I have considered all odds am facing and I intend that the boxes
should be sent as cash delivery and it will be delivered to you in
Athens. The lawyer will stand and pose as the sender and the funds will
be sent as investment funds, so my identity and my family identity will
not appear in the transaction.
What is required is for the lawyer to prepare a document of transfer of
ownership to your name which you will use in contacting the security
company, after which the security company BAX Security Company will
proceed to deliver the safe consignments to you,
If you agree to proceed I will ask the lawyer to secure the document
and send the consignment..After you receive the consignment I will
travel secretly and under a new identity to join you so I can start a
new life
I look forward to your reply e-mail via aishagaddafi139@gmail.com
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Aisha Gaddafi
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Anti-fraud resources:
