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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "% of every payment" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "cashiers check" (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 company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
- 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.
- mail.rkjewellry@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mail2ernest77@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 15:34:20 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?PART=20TIME=20JOB=20OFFER?=
R.K GOLD JEWELLERY
1 Aylesdone Court,
55 Ealing Road,
Wembley, HA10 4BL, UK
www.rkgoldlimited.co.uk
Mail.rkjewellry@yahoo.co.uk
Dear sir/madam,
We are looking for a reliable person who can work for
our company as a financial representative. Your duty
is to receive payment from our customers/creditors
in united states/Europe and Asia on our behalf. These
payments would come to you in form of cash, cashiers
check or official checks. You do not need any capital to
start as you can work from home or office. This business
offer is legitimate and risk free.
Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity
to negotiate your mode of which we will pay for your
services as our representative, however we are willing to
pay you 10% of every payment you processed. If
you are interested then contact us for more information
with the following details:
#Full Name
#Full Address
#Contact Phones
#Age& Sex
#Present Occupation
# (SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO EMAIL: (mail.rkjewellry@yahoo.co.uk)
Regards,
Ernest Spencer.
(Publicity manager)
www.rkgoldlimited.co.uk
Anti-fraud resources:
