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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- belinda_dutoit27@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Inheritance/Conract/Lottery Payment Board" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <belinda_dutoit27@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:08:53 -0800
Subject: Please Read...Opportunity!!!!
Greetings,
Our Company is a trading concern based in Cotonou Benin Republic West Africa.
There has arisen a need for us to remove someone from our board of Directors due to his predicament in Equatorial Guinea. His recent activities contravenes the foreign military assistance act being enforced in this country and as a result, we reached a decision to have him removed as a director of the firm and if we are able to reach a meaningful agreement with you on your signifying your interest, we will then explain more to you.
I am Mrs Belinda Dutoit) and the name of my husband is Nick Dutoit; he is currently being held at Equatorial Guinea.I am asking for your partnership in re-profiling funds over Seven million six hundred and fifty thousand united states dollars being proceeds from trading done under the business name.
I will give all the details, but for now, it is important that I mention that the funds are coming from Cotonou Benin Republic West Africa. and this is a legitimate transaction.
I am offering you 24 percent for management fees; kindly write back and I will provide further instructions.
I am available via email: belinda_dutoit27@yahoo.fr .Finally, please note that this must be concluded in a matter of weeks.
Mrs Belinda Dutoit
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Anti-fraud resources: