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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- m_nneli600@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: jimpeter14@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:06:10 +0200
Subject: GET IN TOUCHED WITH MR MICHAEL NNELI
ATTN:MY DEAR, COMPLIMENT, I\'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN
GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED UNDER THE CO-OPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER
FROM PORTUGAL. PRESENTLY I\'M IN PORTO FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS. NOW
KINDLY CONTACT MY PERSNAL SECRETARY AND ASK HIM TO SEND $1.5M USD BANK
DRAF WHICH IS YOUR CHARE FOR YOUR HELP NO MATTER I COULD NOT CONCLUDE
THE BUSINESS WITH YOU. HIS NAME IS MR MICHAEL NNELI.
CONTCAT
EMAIL;(m_nneli600@yahoo.fr)
FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MR
MICHAEL NNELI AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO SEND THE CHEQUE TO YOU.
PLEASE
REMEMBER TO LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS YOU RECIEVE THE BANK DRAFT. BEST
REGARDS,
BARRISTER JIM PETER (SAB)
Anti-fraud resources: