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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 beloved," (a common phrase found 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.
- alsaadigaddafi@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Micheal Orji <orjidm@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mike_orji005@yahoo.ie
Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 15:17:10 -0500
Subject: Pardon my unsolicited email to you.
Dear beloved,
Pardon my unsolicited email to you. I am only desperate and the only way to
relieve my mind is to talk to somebody with the believe that you will help
with me for our mutual benefits.I wish you to see me as a desperate mother
who needs your help for the future of her children.
My name is Aisha Moammar Gadhafi, the daughter of the late Libyan leader
Moammar Gadhafi.
I am seeking your assistance to help me secure funds my father deposited in
a private security vault in Europe. The Italian Government has already
sized my father investments, properties and bank deposit valued at $1.1
billion. We have funds that are still well secured which I want you to
receive this fund and integrate it to your bank account. There are also
good properties I will like to sell as soon as possible to enable me secure
the money too. I will send you the documents to the properties but the most
important is to secure the cash from the private security vault as soon as
possible.
I will not disclose the amount until I have the confidence that you will
help me as requested. Please what happened in Libya was not my making and
plead you do not use it against me because I could not change it even if I
wanted to.
I am presently in Algeria with close monitoring by the government because
they believe I have violated the refugee agreement with Algeria to refrain
from any political and financial activity.
we are ready to discuss your terms and condition if you are willing to
assist me to secure the funds.
I look forward to your immediate response.(
alsaadigaddafi@hotmail.com )
Best regards,
Aisha
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