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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Prof.Maurice Iwu <profmiwu1@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 21:24:00 +0000
Subject: Urgent Kindly reply now
Attention: The
Director,
My
name is Prof. Maurice Iwu the Former Chairman of Independent National
Electoral Commission (I.N.E.C). During my tenure in office by 2004 to 2009, I
saved $25.8 Million in Spain security company (Twenty Five Million Eight
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and i am ready to invest the fund in
your company, All you will do is to receive and invest the fund in your
country.I cannot invest the money in my country due to political instability
and Government policy somersault.All expenses to send the money to you will be handled
by myself until my arrival in your country. All you will do is to receive the
money and invest it into a profitable venture that will be beneficial to both
of us.The percentage
ratio of sharing will be 50% for me,40% for you and 10% for expenses. Your
urgent response to this proposal is awaited . Give me your telephone number
for more explanation.Please keep this within you and reply me here
immediately .
Yours truly,
Prof.
Maurice Iwu
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Anti-fraud resources:
