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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "remain blessed" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Daniels Omego <daniels_omego@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: omegodaniels@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:29:33 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Investment of Family Inheritance
Attention: Dear Friend,
Investment of Family Inheritance.
Having gone through your Company profile, I decided to contact you for this Investment.This is a Management Placement on behalf of the Family.
I am interested and looking for an experienced business person/company that I can Trust and profitably invest funds in excess of Forty Five million five hundred thousand US Dollars ($45.5m) in profitable ventures or Company/Hotel there in your Country.
For your information, I am not in position or interesting of demanding of any money from you. All I need is your acceptance and sincerity as well as trust so that you and I and my Family can archive the purpose of investing this money in your Firm and in your Country. Having accepted this Proposal,you will be required to:-
[1]. Come to Benin Republic for a General Family meeting to enable you and I and the Family to meet our selves for mutual and business meeting.
[2]. You are to Receive the funds into a business/private bank account after the meeting and the arrangement on how to move the money to your Country.
[3]. Invest/Manage the funds for our profit uses and the type of Investment where the money should be invested.
Percentage will be discoursed and agreed upon your arrival here in Benin. If you prefer to be re-contacted for more express information, please send me your following info as stated below:
[1] Full Names:
[2] Contact address:
[3] Direct Telephone:
(4) Age:
I expect your correspondence and my response will be swift. Please try as much as possible to read and to understand the Proposal very well before you can reply.Do not worry to reply this mail if you are not ready to follow the procedures stated above.
Thanks and remain Blessed:
Mr. Daniels Omego
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