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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "prepared to give you 30% " (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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: =?UTF-8?Q?Luis_Gnan?= <luisgnan11@live.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: luisgnan11@yahoo.co.id
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:47:35 -0500
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?INVESTMENT__IN_YOUR_COUNTRY?=
>From Luis,
I am Luis Gnan. My late father was Mr Raymond Gnan (ex Mayor of Facobly) and President of counsel of administration SODERTOUR-LACS in my country. I want to invest in your country this $12.5 Million Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand US dollars left in a fixed/ suspense Account in one of the banks here.According to the bank i am the only person that can direct them on where and when to make the transfer because my father deposited the money and i am the next of kin.
I want to transfer this money and use it for an investment purpose such as Real Estate and may be open some companies.
I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways: To serve as a guardian, To make arrangement for me to
come over to your country to further my education and To help me invest the money in a profitable ventures.
I am only 17years old and I am prepared to give you 30% percent of the total amount, as commission for assisting me
and 5% for expenses that will be incurred.
Best Regards
Luis
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Anti-fraud resources:
