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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- tony.albert365@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Tony Alber" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:07:55 -0500
Subject: Product Wanted Ok
Hello
My Name is Tony Albert (American Citizen) a business consultant based in
America. My search for a trustworthy Asian national led me to contact you
through the internet
My Proposal:There are multi-national pharmaceutical companies based in
the USA whom I would like you to stand as a middleman to procure some
Raw Materials in India. Some of these companies used to visit India and china to
procures most of their raw materials since the past 5 years in huge
quantity.
The companies pay for the materials on Cash on Delivery (C.O.D.) basis upon
verification of the product.
I am looking for a reliable person/businessman that understands the
local languages and business ettiquetes of India and china who will assist me in contacting the local dealer of this
product in India and stand in as direct local reseller on specific mutually agreed terms and conditions.
I have called the local dealer many times, but could not understand the
local language or my accent wasn't comprehensible to him. Thus, your role would be to negotiate with them and stand in as the reseller to our buyers.
The profit will be shared equally.
This proposal is 100% risk free and will be another income generating
business outside your specialization.
I will give you more details of this proposal the moment I hear from you.
I await your urgent response, to my email
Best Regards,
Tony Albert
Phone:+1-770-450-5917
Email: tony.albert365@aol.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
