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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:
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- mr.ahmedu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. AHMED USMAN" <ubgabriel@ymail.com>
Reply-To: "MR. AHMED USMAN" <mr.ahmedu@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 09:20:43 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Please Your Urgent Attention Is Needed,
Greetings,
My name is Mr. Ahmed Usman; I am a banker by profession in BENIN REPUBLIC, and currently holding the post of bill and exchange manager at the foreign remittance department of my Bank.
I am contacting you in regards to a business transaction of a huge sum of money from my bank. I have the opportunity to meet unclaimed funds Six Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State dollars (US$6.850.000.00 ) that belongs to one of our deceased customer who made a number of months deposit without an heir.
I know that a transaction of this magnitude and nature will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.
Hence; I am inviting you for a business deal and this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 60/40 if you agree to my business proposal. Further detail procedures on how to conduct the transaction will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your urgent mail confirming your willingness.
Please indicate your willingness by contacting me through my below personal email address.
E-mail:( mr.ahmedu@yahoo.com ) .
My Mobile: +229 98812990
I am waiting to hear from you if you are interested.
Remain Blessed.
Best Regards,
Mr. Ahmed Usman
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