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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million pounds" (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.
- georgeculmer2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "George Culmer" <investconsult@clarofree.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: georgeculmer2014@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 06:29:36 -0500
Subject: Investment Proposal!!
Dear Friend,
Greetings
Please tolerate any inconvenience this correspondence might give you at
the course of trying to know who i am, quiet unfortunate we have not
really gotten familiar to each other before but due to the need of the
proposition i intent to present to you i was compelled to go through
your profile via Internet search and i was very interest to do this
business investment plan with you.This is to officially inform you that
Mr. Ahamed Mansoor from Asia India deposited £15Million Great British
Pounds(Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling)here at our Bank LLOYDS BANKING
GROUP PLC. We have verified the fund file and found out that Mr. Ahamed
Mansoor is dead over 6 year back ago and nobody is coming for the fund
here in our Bank as his next of kin /beneficiary of the fund,Most
importantly, you will be required to:
(1). Act as the original beneficiary of the funds.
(2). Receive the funds into a business/private bank account.
I want you to stand as his next of kin over there in your country Asia
India, 50% of the fund will be for me and 40% is for you while 10% is
for any expenses may be occurred during transferring of the fund, You
will receive the fund through Bank Demand Draft or Wire Transfer via our
correspondence bank CSC International Bank London. Forward your Details
On: georgeculmer2014@gmail.com
Once I receive your response i will give you the full details & what is
required from you.
Regards
Mr. George Culmer
Group Finance Director
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