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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)
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- lawalmaxwell24@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Maxwell Alwal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lawalmaxwell24@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2017 23:27:35 +0800
Subject: CAN I WORK WITH YOU?
Maxwel Al Lawal
Personal Assistant
To Col. Dasuki Sambo
Former National Security Adviser
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dear Friend,
My names are Mr. Maxwel Al Lawal, I make this contact with the hope that I can trust you to assist me secure funds of my
principal deposited in an offshore account. The content of this mail are expressed in clear confidence and solely for your
personal consideration.
My principal instructed me to make sure that this fund deposited in an offshore security company is retrieved ASAP using a
foreigner to facilitate clearance of the deposit. Therefore I am using this medium to request for your assistance in
transferring ownership of the sum of $35m safely secured in an offshore security firm.
I need your cooperation to transfer ownership of this fund to you for our joint investment benefits. He has proposed to take
50% of the fund, proposed to give you 40% of this amount, and 10% for my participation and coordination. I assure you that
this transaction is totally free from any risk. I will brief you more on receipt of your reply.
He decided to quickly disclose this information secretly to me for facilitation because he is facing trial hence he does not
want to face additional scandal. Please let me have following details if you are willing to co-operate with me in the
transaction.
Your names:
Residential/office address:
Business:
Age and Marital status:
Your Hand telephone:
Please indicate willingness to work this out with me through this email lawalmaxwell24@gmail.com also give your private
email address that is only accessed by you to avoid divulging information to another person
Yours sincerely
Maxwel Al Lawal
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Anti-fraud resources:
