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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:
- 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- jerrykoffee640@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev.Charles Bello" <duya@mongol.net>
Reply-To: <jerrykoffee640@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 07:13:21 -0700
Subject: My Dear Friend
My Dear Friend,
I apologize for sending you this information via e-mail instead of a
Certified/Post-mail. I?m here to show my gratitude. You might have
remember an email from me in the past regarding business transaction
proposal which we never concluded due to one reason or the other best to
known at that time.
It's an opportunity for me to inform you that the transaction was
concluded with help of a Greek merchant who financed it to a logical
conclusion. Moreover,i appreciate great effort and trust worthiness you
showed, and I compensate you with $1.7 Million i want you to accept this
token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
The fund $1.7m is deposited in a cashier's cheque. Kindly contact
Mr.Koffee for this reference and make further arrangement with him for
the delivery; contact him today, I instructed him about it before I
traveled. Forward my mail including your Full Name/Address and your
phone Number contacts to him for the delivery.
Name: Jerry Koffee
Email:jerrykoffee640@hotmail.com
+22996524160
May God bless you.
Sincerely,
Mr Frank Uyi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
