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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:
- 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "OPPORTUNITIES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Investment.opportunities@onet.com.pl>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2017 05:43:52 +0100
Subject: Re: INVESTMENT PROJET
HELLO,
I AM LOOKING FOR AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD
WHERE I CAN PUT IN A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY BY EMAIL AND WE
SHALL DISCUSS THE MODALITIES OF THE INVESTMENT AND HOW TO MOVE THE
FUNDS TO YOU AFTER AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED.
KINDLY SEND TO ME IN YOUR NEXT MAIL YOUR PRIVATE/DIRECT TELEPHONE
NUMBER TO ENABLE ME DISCUSSES THE MODALITIES BETTER WITH YOU ON PHONE
BEFORE WE PROCEED FURTHER.
REGARDS,
SALUT,
JE CHERCHE UNE OPPORTUNITE D'INVESTISSEMENT DANS N'IMPORTE QUEL
SECTEUR D’ACTIVITE OU JE PEUX APPORTER MES CAPITAUX.
S'IL VOUS PLAIT SI VOUS ETES INTERESSE, CONTACTEZ-MOI IMMEDIATEMENT
PAR COURRIEL ET NOUS ALLONS DISCUTER DES MODALITES DE L'INVESTISSEMENT
ET COMMENT FAIRE POUR DEPLACER LES FONDS A VOUS APRES L'ACCORD
INTERVENU ENTRE LES PARTIES IMPLIQUEES.
VEUILLEZ M ENVOYER DANS VOTRE PROCHAIN MAIL VOTRE NUMERO DE
TELEPHONE PRIVE/DIRECT POUR ME PERMETTRE DE DISCUTER DES MODALITES DE
TRANSFERT AVEC VOUS AU TELEPHONE AVANT TOUTES PROCEDURES
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Anti-fraud resources:
