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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:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- captainrueben@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Capt.Rueben Franco" <captain.rueben@gmail.com>
Reply-To: captainrueben@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:37:27 +0100
Subject: Dear i am Capt.Rueben Franco
Dear i am Capt.Rueben Franco
I hope my e-mail meets you well. I am in need of your
assistance. My name is Capt.Rueben Franco of the
Engineering Unit of US Military here in Baghdad in
Iraq; we have about $9.5 Million US dollars that we
want to move out of the country in three digital boxes . My partners
and I
need a good partner out there, someone we can trust to
receive the funds on our behalf.
It is oil money and legal.
We have made arrangements with a Diplomatic Courier
Service that will move the funds out of Iraq as a
Family Treasures, also we have made arrangement to transfer the said
fund through Bank of
Baghdad depending on what you want, The most important thing is; Can
We
Trust you Once the funds get to you, simply take out
30% as your share and keep the remaining 70% for us.
Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place
where the funds can be sent to, ours is sending it to
you safely.
Also you can view the Link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ middle_east/2988455.stm
If you are interested I will furnish you with more
details upon receipt of your response and contact
details. But I can assure you the whole process is
simple and we must keep a low profile at all times.
I look forward to your reply and co-operation.
Regards,
Capt.Rueben Franco
PRIVATE EMAIL: captainrueben@gmail.com
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