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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "courier company" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Capt. Will Andrews" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cwilla0033@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 22:38:33 -0800
Subject: Hello My Friend
Hello Friend,
Thank you for your feedback.
My Names is Captain Will Andrews United States Army in Syria, and also a West Point Graduate presently serving in the Military with Syria base. The fact remains that I want to purchase your property and invest in Real Estate with you in honesty and in a legal way if you agree to be partnership with me in sincerity of purpose.
Following my sense of duty here in Syria, I made this money through Crude oil deal which I will like to move the sum (USD $16. 7m) Sixteen Million Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollars out of Syria on a very confidential and legal way for purchasing of your property and investing in Real Estate in your country.
Why you are involved is to distract the attention of Syria government since this money is made from Crude oil deal and the fact that U.S military code of Law also banned us access to maintain foreign account or investment while still on duty; these are the reasons I have to bring you in to the business as a foreign technical partner, the money is not for money laundering what's more terrorism I assure you.
Nevertheless, this transaction is without any risk. All I need is your approval and sincerity to work with me and flourish me with the necessary logistics as it cannot be done without expatriate partnership.
The money is presently with an Independent Safe Deposit and Security courier Company. If you have made up your mind to work with me, update me further so as to start making arrangement the delivering process to you.
Feel free to make any inquiry or seek clarification from me.
Regards
Capt. Will Andrews
U.S Army Base in Damascus Syria
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