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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.
- 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 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)
- "million 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- general_david100@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Gen Sir David Richard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <general_david100@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:58:24 +0300
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE!
Dear Friend,
My Name is General David Richards; I am the commander of the International Security Assistant forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
First and foremost I sincerely apologize to you through this medium of communication.
We discover about $ 55 million United States dollars after Strong Hold of the Taliban Insurgence, on this process i acquire the sum of $ 14.5 million dollars without the knowledge of anyone.
I can not be to transfer this funds to my own United Kingdom my country in order not to face further military governing rules regarding this Huge amounts funds and also to protect my status as a British 4 Star Army General.
I want to transfer this funds secretly to somewhere without any traces and invest it, I am seriously looking for matured and God fearing person to help me in receiving this funds on my behalf.
I am offering 30% of the total fund and the remaining 70% will be invested in your country with your partnership.
But we must keep a very low profile of communication for security reasons and to protect my status and position.
Please contact me through my private email: general_david100@yahoo.co.uk
Thanking you in anticipation.
Best regards
Gen Sir David Richards
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