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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- elderdavid@myself.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Elder David" <madhavi@hincol.com>
Date: 28 Sep 2010 19:55:49 -0000
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE
<BR><BR>--<BR>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>Dear Friend</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>I am interested in establishing and operating a very viable business as a<BR>means of investment abroad. I do not know too well on how this is done in<BR>your country, So I will need you to help me in this regard.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>My preference is any good profit yielding businesss and I would appreciate<BR>any viable ideas you could come up with. I will also need you to help me<BR>look for properties like homes and lands for sale as I am proposing to<BR>invest the sum of Twenty Five Million United States Dollars<BR>($25,000,000.00 USD) for this. I do not know if you can and will be of<BR>help to me.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>For a brief on my personality, My name is Mr Elder David, a zimbabwian<BR>bazed in U.K. I am a retired Business man formally into private Shipping<BR>Business. I am 62 years of age, married with a wife and 4 lovely kids. I<BR>dropped my Shipping business because it wasn't producing profitable<BR>income. I have had so much problems with the British Authority just<BR>because am a foreiner I believe.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>My need for this business proposition and to acquire these properties is<BR>very urgent as I am planing to move out of this country with my family<BR>down to your country. I want you to also help in finding a good home where<BR>my family and i will live in. ( Mini Estate )</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>Please I expect your good and prompt reply so that we can proceed swiftly.<BR>I will need your phone and fax numbers for easier communication with you<BR>if I am unable to access my emails.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG>Contact me through my private email ID: </STRONG></FONT><A href="mailto:elderdavid@myself.com"><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG>elderdavid@myself.com</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG>Best Regards,<BR>Mr Elder David Brooks.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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