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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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- 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.
- h.talby@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Bruno Amoussou.PhD" <terry_te60@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: privateinfom@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:02:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: INVESTMENT
Hello
I got your contact though from my intensive research through my plaxo.com. My reason of contacting you is urgent. I am Hon Philippe Henri Dakoury Tabley former governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
I am contacting you based on your professional experience, secondly the present situation surrounding my freedom does not permit me to handle this transaction I am about to share with you so I need your assistance.
I have funds worth several Million of USD in a bank in London-The UK. I wish to direct you to move the funds on my behalf from its actual location to your designation. In this regard you will be presented as my foreign business associate.
I will introduce you to a London based fiduciary agent who will update you on the procedures .He will receive you on arrival in London and he will be responsible to take you to the bank to conclude and finalize the movement of the funds from the bank to your designated bank account.
I need to read from you as quick as possible to enable me know your readiness to assist me in this transaction. I will disclose the amount involve, the bank name and the fiduciary agent contact information when I read from you.
You will have more details in my next mail. While I anticipate your kind co operation in this matter, You can read more about me from the website below:
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201109130700.html
My Regards,
Hon.Dakoury TALBY
CONTACT ME WITH THIS MY PRIVATE EMAIL: h.talby@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources: