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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million british pounds" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447035967650 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- chris_how_pzcussons@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "PZ CUSSONS (UK) Ltd" <officenotice@eche.com>
Reply-To: "PZ CUSSONS (UK) Ltd" <chris_how_pzcussons@walla.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:24:57 +0800
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
FROM THE DESK OF COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR,
PZ CUSSONS (UK) Ltd
Manchester Business Park
3500 Aviator Way
Manchester
M22 5TG
DIRECT PHONE:+447035967650
Email:chris_how_pzcussons@walla.com
I am contacting you in absolute confidence that I can confide in you a huge amount of trust.
My name is Mr Chris How Davis Commercial Director pz cussons uk plc. I write to you in respect of unclaimed dividend in our company. the dividend which worth 10 million British pounds have not been claimed for the past 4 years, and no attempt have been made by any relations or any body for the dividend.
So for this reason I am contacting you to come and claim the dividend as the bonafide owner of the shares, since the dividend is still open for the benefide owner to come with a proper documentation and claim.
1) On an agreement, I assure you that I am going to transfer the dividend (money) into your account.
2) You will assure me of keeping my deal with you to an utmost secrecy because of my position .
3) You will promise to give me 60% of the total money as soon as the fund get into your account with a written promissory note signed by you.
4) I will assist you in making a proper document to make your claim genuine as a bonafide foreign beneficiary to the said dividend.
For more information about pz cussons uk plc log on to www.pz cussons.com And Please reply this message urgently at chris_how_pzcussons@walla.com as soon as you received this email.
while waiting for your favorable response.
Yours faithfully
Mr Chris How Davis.
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