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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "robert.brown@msn.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: "Mr. Robert Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robert.brwn@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:07:53 +0800
Subject: I await your response on this matter.
Dear
Hello, I am a staff of Private Banking Services at the CIMB BANK Malaysia. An investment was placed under my management four years ago by a customer who is now deceased. I need your assistance in investing these funds.
if you're interested contact me via my private email: robert.brown@msn.com If you are not interested in my offer do not respond to this email.
I want you to understand that I can't just disclose this transaction without making sure who am dealing with and as well be sure that you are capable of handling this transaction which involves a huge amount of money as I see it to be. I need the below information in respect to this I would want to know certain things about you before I can really break the ice to you in detail. Please do not be offended by my tune but you must have to understand that I am making sure this is secured for security reasons.
I do not want to make any mistake and I want to make sure whoever I am working with should be capable of handling such transaction and also trustworthy. Also due to certain attempts on this fund and fraud I want be very careful. So please I would appreciate you give me answers to this questions for us to proceed.
Have you been convicted in anyway?---
Do you have a job or self employed?
Do have an account with any bank?------
Home Address.......................
Phone..........................
Age.............................
Occupation............................
Gender................................
Do you have any form of international Id card such as (International Passport Or Drivers License)?
Please this information is highly required. I want you to understand that I am really very careful on making a choice of partner for good reasons. So please do not be offended if I cant work with you. As soon as I hear from you with answers to this question and a scan copy of your Id card I will proceed and detail the opportunity.
I will also send you a copy of my working Id as well for you to know who you are dealing with. If you do not meet up with all the above requirement please am sorry I cannot proceed with you. I will require immediate response from you for us to proceed.
Thanks,
Robert Brown
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