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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)
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- majdavid202@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Maj. David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <majdavid202@yeah.net>
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 16:14:31 -0800
Subject: Re-Confirm
Dear Friend.
My name is Major David . I am a soldier with the US army presently in Syria. I apologize for just giving my first name as I am presently in service and will definitely disclose my full detail when we have discussed further. I have a business proposition for you. Before i proceed I request this email be given utmost confidentiality due to the nature of this transaction and for the fact i am in active service. I have 2 consignment boxes presently with a security company which i need you to claim for me. I had these boxes delivered there through the help of a UN diplomat i was able to get this boxes out and safe. The boxes both contain a very large amount of money; we are talking millions here in hard US Dollars. I wish you to contact this company and claim these boxes on my behalf. I will provide all needed documentation required to facilitate your claim. If you are interested in doing this transaction with me kindly write me back and provide me with your full contact information but if otherwise you do not
I await you swift response.
Your s Truly
Major David.
NB.
COntact me via the below email address:
majdavid202@gmail.com
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