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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:
- 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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mohamad Hassan <mohamad.hassan@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: mohamad_hassan@rediffmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:46:01 +0200
Subject: Re: Assalam
Assalamalaikum Wr Wb
I hope in the name of ALLAH that I have the right person who will assist me. I got your contact through a web directory.
I want to transfer my family's money into your country/ business for investment purposes and to secure the future of my 3 children because we are uncertain of the future of this country; as such I would like to make contact with you residing in that country for assistance.
Note these funds are already in a security company which has branches around the world for safe keeping.
I would have done this myself but my present health condition will not warrant me to do so. Kindly help with this because I cannot travel out of libya at the moment due to some certain conditions and great difficulties added to the fact that am disabled on a wheel chair due to a bombing that occurred in Benghazi I will explain more to you when I am certain that I can trust you.
The fall of Muammar Gaddafi came with a lot of destruction / Hell to our great country Libya and everything is practically difficult now and opportunities are closing up, the new government is trying to frustrate our life.
Please if you accept this offer of assistance you are required to give me your Name, age, occupation, address also enclosing your telephone fax numbers.
What I now need from you are as follows:
1. You will help me receive and secure the funds from the security company on my family's behalf and open a Bank account for my children in your country with the credentials i will give you.
2. You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum involved for your assistance.
3. As soon as you confirm to me by e-mail your readiness to assist with this, I will give you more details as regards claiming the funds from the security company.
4. Please note that this project is 100% risk free but you must keep it very secret and confidential with strong assurance that you will not let me down at all.
Regards,
Mohamad Hassan al-Rida
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