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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:
- "very confidential" (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.
- mustaphawalid54@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mustapha Walid" <erica@iclix.co.za>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 20:11:28 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: RE: Private Investment
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am Navy Commodre Mustapha Walid of the Nigeria Navy. I serve on board=
NNS Aradu in the Niger delta oil producing region of Nigeria. (Eastern
naval command) I am writing you to intimate you of my interest to inve=
st
in your country as your country is one of the fast growing economies in=
the world.
I am contacting you as a government official of the republic to give me=
all necessary assistance. In your country a foreigner can=E2=80=99t mak=
e
investment without at list one indigenous director. As a serving office=
r I
am not allowed by the code of conduct of office to make private investm=
ent
until am retired.
I am interested in hotels which generate money on daily basis. Other ar=
ea
that attracts my interest is mechanized farming and stocks. You can als=
o
make suggestions as you are more conversant with your economy and we wi=
ll
deliberate on them
It is very important that you keep this communication very confidential=
as I have told you of the rule of law that prevents us as serving offic=
ers
from making private investments so as to prevent corruption and fraud. =
I
am looking forward to hear from you soonest.
Please get back to me immediately with your details as follows so we ma=
y
discuss more.Your details should be forwarded to this email ONLY :
mustaphawalid54@yahoo.com
1. Full Names and address
2. Telephone
Yours sincerely
Commodre Mustapha Walid
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Anti-fraud resources:
