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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "rmbprgent@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Gent" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rmbprgent@live.com>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 23:32:55 +0800
Subject: Thanks and Remain Bless
>From the Desk of: Mr. Peter Gent.
Chief Operation Officer
Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa.
Attention: Sir/Madam.
I am Peter Gent,Chief Operation Officer Rand Merchant Bank South Africa. I need your assistance to execute a business Proposal; it involves
transfer of sum US $7.5 Million. I shall perfect all legal documents in your name to make you beneficiary of the fund.
Once the funds are transferred to your nominated account we will share the funds in a ratio of 50% both parties,Please treat more confidential.
My private emails address is rmbprgent@live.com
Kindly respond with the following information below for further details.
Full name and address
Private phone number and fax.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Peter Gent.
Chief Operation Officer (RMB)
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Anti-fraud resources:
