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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Micheal Evans <evmicheal@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:23:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: investment.
Attn:
Dear Sir/ Madam
I introduce myself as Evans
Michael the personal Assistant to Mrs. Juliana Imoke the wife of Dr Liyel
Imoke.
The Honorable Governor of Cross
Rivers State in federal Republic of Nigeria .
There is a sum of US$15 Million
dollars which she wants to invest on REAL ESTATE project .
why I am searching for an
interested person or persons is to negotiate over this investment.
For further details, Contact me on
telephone +234-8037839841, Or you can immediately forward to me your contact
telephone number.
Regards,
Mr. Evans Michael
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Anti-fraud resources:
