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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)
- "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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- michaelidris2015@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr David Abbey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelidris2015@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:30:16 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY ACCOUNT OFFICER FOR YOUR $2 MILLION
Dear Friend,
Hope this mail find you in an excellent condition of health.I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from USA. Presently I'm in USA for investment projects with my partner.
Meanwhile, i did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite the fact that it failed us some how.Hence,i have resolved to compensate you with the sum of $2 million.Now contact my Offshore Bank Account Officer to receive the $2 million dollars i left for you as your compensation..
His contact information is here below:
Name: MICHAEL IDRIS
Email: michaelidris2015@yahoo.com
I have instructed him to pay you the total sum of $2 million dollars which I kept for you as your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciated all your efforts to assist me at that time although it did not work out for both of us.So feel free to get in touch with my Offshore Bank Account Officer and let him know how he can move the $2 Million dollars to you as instructed.
Also do let me know immediately you receive the $2 Million dollars so that we can share the joy together. If you have any issue regarding the payment,please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Mr.David Abbey.
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Anti-fraud resources:
