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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:
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- +22993900173 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- wattle_adabayor2010@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mark bello <markbellod23@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:28:20 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY MR WATTLE,
Deare friend,I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Hong Kong.Now, I want you to contact my secretary on the information below NAME;Wattle Adabayorask him to send you the total sum of(EIGHT Hundred Thousand united states dollars)A CASHIER'S CHEQUE ($8,00.00), which I kept for your compensation. CONTACT THE SECRETARY ON this email(wattle_adabayor2010@yahoo.fr) or call him on his direct phone numbers +22993900173Furnish him with your informations like;YOUR FULL NAME.............YOUR AGE.....................YOUR CONTACT ADDRESSs..................YOUR PHONE NUMBERS ....................MAILING ADDRESS...................Mark Bello
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Anti-fraud resources:
