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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: "Consultant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investmentproget@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2017 14:39:36 +0100
Subject: RE: Investment Project
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,
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.
Investment Project
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Anti-fraud resources:
