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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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mrharryosei@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Harry Osei" <info@harrybenson.com>
Reply-To: mrharryosei222@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 18:50:38 +0100 (CET)
Subject: I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK.
Hello My names are Mr. Harry Osei. I am 52years old married with two
lovely kids. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit
both of us, as an officer in my Bank; it is my duty to send in a financial
report to my Head Office in the end of each business year.
On the course of last two years 2013 business report, I discovered that my
branch in which I am rank officer made twelve Million two hundred and
twenty Thousand United State Dollars ($12,220.000.00) which my Head Office
are not aware of and will never be aware of it. I have placed this fund on
SUSPENSE ACCOUNT with no beneficiary.
As an officer of this bank i cannot be directly connected to this money,
this informed my contacting you. Indeed I will appreciate if you can
receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds.
Here is my private E:mail.... ( mrharryosei@yahoo.com )
Regards
Mr.Harry Osei
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Anti-fraud resources:
