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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- drdavidaddo233@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr David <martins.kofi@att.net>
Reply-To: drdavidaddo@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:24:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: INVITATION FOR TENDER
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Millennium challenge Corporation(MCC) and the Government of the Republic of Ghana in West Africa(the Government ),have entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact(the Compact) for Millennium Challenge Account Assistance to facilitate poverty reduction through Economic growth in Ghana in the amount of approximately Five Hundred and Forty seven Million USD(MCC funding).
The Millennium Development authority(MIDA on behalf of the Government of Ghana intends to apply portion of MCC funding to eligible payments under a contract associated with this request for the supply of the Following items.
1. water treatment Chemicals.
2. Fertilizer
3. Medical equipment
4. Agro chemicals
5. Condoms
6. Educational infrastructure.
7. Fishing equipment/Boats
8. Knapsack sprayer
9. Treated mosquito net
10. Agricultural Farm tools
11. Poultry equipment
12. Pest control equipment
13. Office equipment
14. T -shirt
15. Furniture
16. wheelchair
17. Cereals/grains
18. Food Supplement
19.Jute Bags
20. Weighing Scales
21.Test Kits
22.Rice
23.Cement
24.Computer
25.Hospital bed sheets and pillow cases.
26.Domestic sewing machine
ETC ETC
Tender is open to all eligible foreign contractors from eligible source countries as defined in the MCC programme Procurement guidelines.
If you can handle the supply of any of the above items, get back to me for more details. I am a commission agent.
Thanks,
Mr.David Addo,
+233 2450 63210
drdavidaddo233@gmail.com.
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