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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- futoshi.ogawa11@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Futoshi Ogawa" <dsmith@cgcc.edu>
Reply-To: futoshi.ogawa11@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 06:16:09 -0400
Subject: Business Proposal
FROM THE DESK OF:
MR. FUTOSHI OGAWA
BANK OF TOKYO MITSUBISHI
U. F .J BANK
ROPPONGI BRANCH
JAPAN.
Dear Friend,
How are you today and business in your country?
I am Mr. Futoshi Ogawa, Bank Manager of Tokyo Mitsubishi ufj Bank,
Tokyo Branch. I have a business proposal that will be of immense benefit to
the both of us.
If you are interested, you can contact me through My private Email:
futoshi.ogawa11@yahoo.com
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Futoshi Ogawa
Anti-fraud resources: