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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- hardy.mustafa@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Hardy mustafa <hardymustafa@cantv.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 05:01:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: God Is Great
God Is Great
I am contacting you to assist me transfer USD $7.5 Mllion Dollars,the money I inherited from my Late Father which he made from the sale of Crude Oil Business for investment in your Company under your Management while I continue my education.I am looking for somebody that will help me in the recovery of this money from the bank.
Many thanks to you for helping me as I would compensate you with a good percentage of the money which is negotiable after the money has been successfully moved to your country.
I am waiting for your urgent reply.Thanks as I wait for your urgent reply for more details.This is my telephone number +22501951164
hardy.mustafa@yahoo.com
Yours Respectfully,
Hardy Mustafa
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Anti-fraud resources:
