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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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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 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.
- abdulazizigroups@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Abdul Yusuf <info@dentland.hu>
Reply-To: <abdulazizigroups@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 23:05:09 +0200
Subject: Re:Profitable investment proposal
I am interested in establishing and operating a very viable
business as a means of investment in your country. I do not know too
well on how
this is done in your there, so I will need you to help me in this
regard.
My preference is any good profit yielding business and I would
appreciate any viable ideas you could come up with. I will also need
you to help
me look for properties like homes and lands for sale as I am proposing
to
invest the sum of seventeen Million United States Dollars
($17,000,000.00 USD)
for this. I do not know if you can and will be of help to me. For a
brief on
my personality; my name is Abdul Yusuf, am based in United Kingdom.
I am a retired Business man, formally into Oil and Gas business. I am
62
years of age, married with a wife and 4 lovely kids. I dropped my
business
because it wasn't producing profitable income anymore for me and I have
had
so much problems with the British Authority just because i am a
foreigner
I believe and hope that does not also affect me in your Country.
My need for this business proposition is very urgent as I am planning
to move out
of this country with my family. I want you to also help me in finding a
good home where my family and I will live in. Please I expect your good
and
prompt reply so that we can proceed swiftly. I will need your phone and
fax
numbers for easier communication with you incase I am unable to access
my
emails.
Contact me here:abdulazizigroups@hotmail.com
Best Regards
Abdul Yusuf
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