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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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.
- john.castel@btinternet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Collins Bongo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <collinsbongo@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:37:38 +0100
Subject: Response Highly Needed Urgent Please
Dear Friend.
I got explicit investment information about your country from Red Cross who has been of great assistance to my family since their departure from Haiti due to the human right abuses in Haiti and the problem of earthquake.
I am John C Castel Jr. An American citizen, I and my family have been staying in Haiti because of our business investment here. My Father worked with united nation before the dead of my father. after i lost my father. i and my mum have agreed to move our investment out from Haiti because of Economic problem the country is passing through right now because of earthquake that happen in my country Haiti. After this problem we have been facing a lot of problems on business and investment. Nothing is moving successful here because many people died on the problem while some are hungry.
I would save your time to make it short. i secured out a total sum of US$ 8,50.000.00 for a foreign investment in your country. i would like this to be kept highly confidential as this money was secured from my dad account and being on his position before he late they are not entitle to control such money. Hence I seek your good assistance to invest these funds into profitable investment in your country to facilitate future survival for me abroad. After due deliberation with my aids we have decided to offer 20% of these funds to you as compensation for your strong cooperation while 5% have been mapped out for both local and international expenses that may be incurred during this transaction and 10% for poor people in my country. You can see more about my country on the below site:
http://www.ccihc.com/en/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8455629.stm
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/haiti.quake/
Please I count on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of this business transaction.
Many Thanks & may God's blessing remain with you.
Please respond to my direct mail: john.castel@btinternet.com
I remain yours sincerely.
John C Castel.Jr
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