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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- davidasare71@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: David Asare <ezambra@tarpulin.cl>
Reply-To: davidasare71@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 02:56:08 -0400 (CLT)
Subject: Good day to you, my name is David Asare I am 16 years old
Hello
Good day to you, my name is David Asare I am 16 years old, seeking your assistance in respect of my late father's consignment worth Forty Five Million United State Dollars ($45Million USD) which is now currently in a security company here in Ghana.
My late father's partner Dr. Raymond Gray whom was suppose to receive this consignment and help me invest the funds over there in America died in an accident. Please I want you to help me get in touch with the security company here in Ghana as my foreign beneficiary that will receive this consignment in your country.
I am willing to give you 30% of the total funds and you will help me invest the remaining funds over there in your country before I come over to meet you. Please if you are interested, do get back to me via my privat email address davidasare71@yahoo.com.hk so that I can give you all necessary details for us to proceed with this transaction, thanks for your time God bless you.
Yours Sincerely,
David Asare
davidasare71@yahoo.com.hk
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