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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- 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.
- +447031824917 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "\"benjamin william\" <bejamin william>" <cxu-9ah-tgr@tele2.nl>
Reply-To: benjamin_william@live.com
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:12:27 +0200
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
--
Dear
Sir/Madam
With deep appreciation of your esteem contact l got regard investment project.I wished to
introduce myself to you sir.. I’ am Mr.Benjamin Williams,from south Africa base in UK, I need to invest some money in
your country regards to the improvement stability your country have in the world record on investments,
I want
you to inform me the procedure of a non-Citizen investing in your Country because l know that I cannot invest in your
country without the assistant from someone like you for a partnership in business.
However i am highly educated
with master in ADMINISTRATION
married to Rebeca Lilian with two kids ROSE AND JAMES.
Am 45 years of age and also
a graduate.
Though I’ have in mind to invest my budgeted (2, millions Dollars )in an existing business so that
both can join our efforts and expand the investment for our better further.
The profits will be share according
to an agreed percentage.You are also entitle to 30% of my budget investment money for allowing me to invest in an
existing business in your country.
.
I thank you very much for taking time to go through my e-mail and l hope to
read your reply soon.Kindly let me have your bio data for easy further contact and to enable me have a brief knowledge
about my business partner.
Please you contact me with my private E-mail stated below if you are interested
about this transaction.
E-mail:benjamin_william@live.com.
Contact number:+447031824917.
Best
Regards
From Mr.Benjamin William.
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