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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- dr.ericwilliamssando45@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Eric Williams Sando" <dr.ericwilliamssando@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.ericwilliamssando45@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:13:39 -0500
Subject: 2012 SUPPLY OFFER TO ECOWAS GHANA
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Dr. Eric Williams Sando. There is an open Tender for the supply of
your products to the Government of Ghana. under the ECOWAS contract
procurement board in a large quantity. If your company can be able to
handle the supply of your company products. Give me a feed-back as soon as
you read my mail. As a commissioned agent i am entitled to 1% commission
of the total invoice value. This commission will be paid to me after you
must have received all your payments from the organization.
The organization make an advance payment of 80% by bank to bank
telegraphic transfer (T/T) and the remaining 20% by bank to bank
telegraphic transfer. All payments are to be confirmed by your bank before
the supply/shipment. To avoid making a mistake in quotation send your
price list and catalog by Email: dr.ericwilliamssando45@hotmail.com.
Best regards,
Dr.Eric Williams Sando
Ceo (President) Sandoagency Ltd
3rd Floor Plot 118
Airport Road
Email:dr.ericwilliamssando45@hotmail.com
NOTE: I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
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Anti-fraud resources:
