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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "below is the details of " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- 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.
- benson30388@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. PAUL BENSON LLB,ESQ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benson30388@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 06:27:02 +0900
Subject: LET ME KNOW...
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. Paul Benson and i have been with the HSBC bank as a banking
information and Technology officer who handle all
the dealings that has to do with customers both home and abroad. Please do
note that i have a client who am suppose to
introduce to secure a property in United States of America Miami to be
specific which i have made arrangement through a
property development and estates agent in USA that want to assist my
client to secure the property in the 2000.After all
arrangement has been made the funds was released to my bank through my
care to transfer as soon as i get a better location
and also documentation is made but suddenly my client died by a plane
clash three days after he gave me the funds to me to
assist him in processing the documentation and also confirmation of the
property.
I have tried in all possible means to see that i get in touch with any of
his relation but all did not workout at for the
past ten years now. What i want is for you to please reason with me and
see if am wrong to use the funds by transferring it
to your account and we both will share it 50%50. Am doing this because i
have been asked by my bank to forward the funds or
provide an account or address of any relation of his that i know is alive
because he died with all of his family including
his in-law. Below is the details of MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER and also the web
site you are seeing is the online news of the
passenger/crew of the plane and you will see his name in the middle.
Please copy and past the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/ world/europe/859479.stm
If you are willing to do this am assuring you that this wont take more
than four working days as soon as i get your full
details via email or fax:The total amount is US$9.5million
Regard
Mr. Paul Benson
Email: benson30388@gmail.com
Tel: +447732511808 (Send me an sms or call me now.)
Fax: +44844 774 4805
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Anti-fraud resources:
