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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- dr.clintong@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR CLINTON GEORGE" <dr.clintong@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:41:54 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF AUDITOR
INTERNATIONAL AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OFFSHORE CREDIT COMMISSION
EMAIL ADDRESS: dr.clintong@rediffmail.com
RE: YOUR OUTSTANDING REMITTANCE AMOUNT DISCOVERED
I AM WRITING TO YOU IN A TOP CONFIDENTIAL LEVEL AS I MADE AN ASTONISHING
DISCOVERY DURING THE
COURSE OF MY AUDITING FOR THE JUST CONCLUDED FISCAL YEAR.
A WHOPPING SUM THAT RUNS INTO MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES DOLLARS WAS
UNCOVERED BY ME WITH
YOUR NAME AS THE MAIN BENEFICIARY. THIS FUND WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO
THIS OFFICE BY YOUR
PARTNERS AFTER WHICH THEY OPTED FOR PAYMENT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
UNFORTUNATELY THE FUND
WAS RETURNED HERE IN OUR OFFICE AS THE SAFEST VENUE FOR DISBURSEMENT. EVER
SINCE THEN NOBODY
HAS COME FOR THE CLAIM.
ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING SERIES OF SEPARATE FRUITLESS ARRANGEMENT TO
HAVE THIS PAYMENT
RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE BUT THE WHOLE TRUTH IS THAT YOUR FUND HAS BEEN
LYING HERE WAITING FOR
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.
NOTE THAT IF YOU KEEP ON DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
THEY WILL NOT
SUCCEED IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT HENCE YOUR FUND IS LYING HERE UNCLAIMED
AND THIS THEY WILL
NOT TELL AS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN EXTORTION.
CONSEQUENTLY, I WISH TO ASSIST YOU TO RELEASE THIS FUND ONLY IF YOU ARE
WILLING TO PLAY ALONG
WITH ME AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY AS MY OFFICE IS AT
STAKE IF ANYONE SHOULD
KNOW OF MY INVOLVEMENT TO ASSIST YOU.
FURTHERMORE, I SHALL BE REQUESTING FOR COMPENSATION ONCE YOUR PAYMENT IS
FINALIZED AND YOU
RECEIVE IT IN YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT.
ONLY THEN I SHALL SEND MY BANK DETAILS FOR ANY REASONABLE COMPENSATION YOU
WHICH TO GIVE TO
ME.
IT IS IMPORTANT YOU REALIZE THAT I AM IN THE POSITION TO MAKE USE OF MY
AUTHORITY HERE TO GET
THIS REMITTANCE FINALIZED WITHIN 48HRS, ONCE MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ACCEPTED
AND I HAVE YOUR
WRITTEN ASSURANCE AS TO THIS REGARDS.
IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION TO ENABLE
URGENT CONCLUSION.
1) CONFIRMATION OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COMPENSATE ME THEREAFTER.
2) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBERS
UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE I SHALL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE ON THE TRANSFER
FORMALITIES.
AWAITING YOUR URGENT COOPERATION AS I AM INTERESTED IN AN URGENT
CONCLUSION OF THIS ISSUE.
REGARDS
DR CLINTON GEORGE
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