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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.
- 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.
- brown.frank@consultant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Frank Brown <frankaconsultant@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: brown.frank@live.com
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:21:34 +0530 (IST)
Subject: From Frank Brown
Dear Sir
My name is Frank Brown.
I am writing you for an investment proposal.
I run a finance and law consultancy firm here in West Africa.
Presently, we have a client who wants to invest his fund abroad in a viable line of business you will recommend. We are of the opinion that you are into financial business
because of political instability in this region, my client wants the fund moved out of Africa for proper investment.
So i thought it wise to contact you so that you can stand or find a capable person from any part of the world who can receive the funds and invest it.
My client being the investor's terms are very good.
If interested,pls reply asap for details. brown.frank@consultant.com
Waiting,
MY warmest regards,
Frank Brown
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Anti-fraud resources:
