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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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Masako A. Haruka" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <masakoayaka1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:12:57 +0100
Subject: Response!
Hello Dear.
Am sorry if this letter distract your attention in anyway, please give me the honor to introduce my self and why I'm sending this letter to you. Am Mr. Masako Ayaka Haruka, 82years old but disable. I have been a very successful business man all my life in my country Japan. Recently my country Japan experienced the biggest earthquake so far in history that a lot of people lost their lives and all they have. I also lost my wife and my only daughter and her husband. A lot of poor people here crying for help which I would love to be helper to them. I believe that God knows the best.
I would love to seek your assistant over a business partnership as I have lost all I have invested in my country. Take a few moment of your time to go through this link to view what happened in my country: http://www.nationaljournal.com/pictures-japan-earthquake-rescue-recovery-and-reaction-20110314 .
I have this fund $10.5 million ( US Dollars ) that has been with a foreign investors in New York United States of America and this fund is released for payment. I need you to come in as my family relative or good friend for the money to be paid to you. We can use this money for a good business investment over there and I'd be coming over in person to meet you as soon as the fund is under your care so that we can plan on what to do with it. Please get back to me with your credentials as follows. Your full name to fill in: …Your Resident and Office Addresses:…Your Personal Telephone number:…Your Age:…. Also tell me your working or business experiences.
I wait for your urgent and fast response as we have just 15 working days to have this money paid on your name as soon as we file in. I would give you my information such as my pictures or to add you on my face book.
Yours Truly,
Mr. Masako Ayaka Haruka.
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Anti-fraud resources:
