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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:
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "kazeem Mohammad" <gold.metal02@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <gold.metal02@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:09:15 -0000
Subject: GOLD FOR SALE URGENT
ATTN: SIR/MADAM,
IT IS WITH A REAL PLEASURE THAT WE CONTACT YOU IN ORDER TO MAKE YOU SHARE OF AN OPPORTUNITY OF BUSINESSES AND FOR WHICH WE SEEK A SERIOUS PARTNER. INDEED, WE ARE WITH THE HEAD OF A COMPANY OF TRANSIT AND CONSIGNMENT BASED IN DIMENSION OF WEST AFRICA
OUR COMPANY REPRESENTS AND HELPS A GROUP OF VILLAGE GOLD WASHERS TO SELL NATURAL NOBLE METALS; MAINLY GOLD. WE HAVE AT PRESENT FOR EXPORT 535 KILOGRAMMES GOLD (WITH) BRUT WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* ORIGIN: BURKINA FASO
* QUANTITY: 535 KILOGRAMMES
* QUALITY: 22 CARATS
* NATURE: METAL (WITH) OUT OF POWDER
* RATE OF PURITY: 99%
* IMPURITY COMPOSITION: 1% (PRIMARILY IRON OXIDE)
PRICE:$25,500 USD
ALLUVIAL GOLD DUST
THESE GOLD WASHERS CAN PROVIDE PER THREE MONTHS PERIOD 30 TO 50 KILOGRAMMES OF GOLD. THEN WE WANT TO CHOOSE YOU AS REPRESENTING IN YOUR COUNTRY SO THAT YOU BUY FROM US OR YOU FIND US REGULAR GOLD PURCHASERS. IF OUR PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU.
Mr KAZEEM MOHAMMAD
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Anti-fraud resources:
