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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:
- 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:
- "drbertrand11@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR JAGBOTOWE Bertrand" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drbertrand10@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 18:08:56 +0100
Subject: 1200 kg GOLD FOR SELL . ( Delivery Before Payment )
Good Day :
We are intermediary's that helps foreigner to buy GOLD; this is done bass on our percentage of 2% of each Kilogram of Gold that you will purchase from the seller here in Africa in Republic of Benin. We have in stock an important quantity of powder Gold at hand on transit here in Republic of Benin and Ghanaians origin to be sold. We are in search of potential buyers or of every person who can put us in touch with buyers of the whole world for a partnership of sincere and long-lasting (sustainable) affair (business). Our stock answers the following indications:
Quantity: 1200 kg
Quality: 22 carats
Purity: 98 %
Origin: Republic of GHANA
Price 7500 Euros / 1 Kilogram
From reception of your intention of purchase or intermediary's proposition, we shall send you more details about our procedure of sale and with our conditions of purchase, since the owner (seller) have already agreed to ship the whole GOLD to your destination before payment and payment will be bank to bank transactions.
NOTE: YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY UPFRONT PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASING OF THE GOLD DUST UNTILL ITS GET YOU MAKE THE SHIPMENT TO YOUR COUNTRY.
Looking forward to reading to you very soon,
Please receive the expression of our sincere consideration.
DR JAGBOTOWE Bertrand
Yours Intermediary
Tel: 00229 97 65 62 72
Fax: 229 21 30 45 871
Email: drbertrand11@gala.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
