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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.
- 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.
- mrstephenmensah02@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Stephen Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrstephenmensah02@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2017 00:27:47 -0500
Subject: Please kindly Read:
Capital Oil Plc
www.capitaloilplc.com
Please kindly read:
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/02/ifeanyi-ubahs-capital-oil-sued-for-brand-name-infringement/
Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah is a Nigerian business mogul, MD/CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Industries and Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation.
Here is my proposition for your consideration. The Account Officer of Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has just contacted me for assistance on urgent transfer of US$120 Million in cash. The fund is presently lodged in financial institute in Ghana for safekeeping. This is purely confidential matter and most be treated with utmost secrecy. I cannot handle such mega amount of cash transaction, I therefore invite you to partner with me to transact this deal. Our benefits is 40% of the total amount involved.
Please confirm back promptly if you have capacity to handle this transaction ASAP.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation and prompt reply.(mrstephenmensah02@gmail.com)
Best Regards,
Stephen Mensah
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Anti-fraud resources: