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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)
- "transaction is 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.
- 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.
- phillipmark2013@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- have a great day yours sincerely, mr philip mark phillipmark2013@gmail.com please contact me through my private email . (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Philip Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bank_a19@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 07:17:21 -0800
Subject: DID YOU RECEIVE MY MESSAGE
Dear Friend;
This message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I am a banker by profession and currently holding the post of Senior Manager and Accounting unit of the bank.
I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($24million USD) of one of my Chinese client who died along with her friends on 6 July 2013 in a plane crash. why I have to do this, I don't want the government to take over the fund and You can confirm the genuineness of the deceased death by clicking on this web site below
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25335113
However, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 60/40%. All I need is for you to set up an online account in your name with Gulf bank and I will have the money deposited into this account of yours to enable you complete the transfer online to your designated bank account in your home country; Online banking is the safest way of doing business of such value no matter where you are located. It is as simple as it looks and as soon as the fund is transferred to your account, I will put away all documents to cover any trace of the fund.
I know you will be very much interested, kindly provide me with the details below.
First Name.............
Surname................
Address...............
City........................
State/Province.......
Country..................
Telephone No........
Occupation ……….
Date of Birth (date/m/yr) ………..
Copy of International Passport Or ID card……….
Further details will be provided when next I hear from you; remember this transaction is risk free as I would never jeopardize my future and that of my family by getting involved into what is illegal.
Have a great day
Yours sincerely,
Mr Philip Mark
phillipmark2013@gmail.com
please contact me through my private email . bank_a19@yahoo.com.tw
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Anti-fraud resources:
