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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)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- elfs.offer@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Madam Mary Grace <info_org2014200@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Madam Mary Grace <elfs.offer@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:53:43 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR CONSENT PLS.
Dear Friend.
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund Now,I have completed the transaction with another partner in Paraguay . I am now currently in Paraguay doing my investment project. I want you to quickly get in contact with my secretary on the information below NAME; Rev Dr. J.U.Abati. E-MAIL ( elfs.offer@gmail.com ).
Ask him to send you the total sum of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY (US$2,500,000,00) which I kept for your compensation. Contact him now without any delay on his above email address and Advise him to send the money to you through bank to bank direct transfer or via online banking wire transfer system and also send the below information to him to enable him proceed with the processing of your fund release as instructed.
1.YOUR FULL NAMES.: Â
2.YOUR CURRENT CONTACT ADDRESS.:
3.YOUR CURRENT PHONE/CELL NUMBER.:Â
4.SEX.:....... / AGE.:........
5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY CARD.:
6.YOUR OCCUPATION.:
7.YOUR PRIVATE E-MAIL.:
Thanks and God bless with more congratulations once again for your financial assistance effort in the past.
Regards,Madam Mary Grace,
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