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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- madhoun_2020@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ahmed Al-Madhoun <almadhoun2020@gmail.com>
Reply-To: madhoun_2020@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 10:38:49 +0000
Subject: Attention:
Attention:
I am Mr. Ahmed Al-Madhoun contacting you today for a business which
would be of immense benefit to you.I am a consultant based in Africa.
I represent Muammar Gaddafi Family, who died a tragic death while in
power. the wife of the late Gaddafi has instructed me to locate a
foreigner who would act as her partner.Actually I got your contact
from the Internet; please do not feel bad about it because I am
compelled to reach you due to the situation. I am to safeguard this
money in question.
Please I implore you to keep this transaction absolutely secret, you
should not in any way, disclose this business to any body no matter
how close the person may be to you or your heart.I don't want people
to expose it negatively or feel that you are going to be more
opportune than them and go forth to say negative prayers concerning
this transaction. I want you to contact me immediately so that we can
proceed with the business.
The wife of late Gaddafi wishes to find someone trust worthy who could
help the family to clear about $50 million USD worth of investment
over seas .this funds are been abandoned over seas without any
beneficiary because of the sudden death of Gaddafi and the family
needs you as a beneficiary to be able to clear and transfer this
funds. As you know, assets worth several million of dollars belonging
to his family have been confiscated by the present Libyan government
so this project is top secret and you should not reveal it to anyone.
The family has decided that if you assist in clearing and standing as
the beneficiary of this funds,you will get 40% of the total funds and
60% will be for the family.Reach me by return mail if you are
interested in this proposal so that I will give you relevant details.
Strictly send it to my private email
account:(madhoun_2020@yahoo.co.uk) or send me your email address so i
can send you details of this transaction.
Regards.
Mr. Ahmed Al-Madhoun
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