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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:
- "30% for you " (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)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mathan Sabeen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mathan_sabeen@ymail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2014 15:14:02 -0500
Subject: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP OFFER
From: Mathan Sabeen
Sabeen chambers and partners
Moscow-Russia.
Re: Business Partnership Proposal
Dear Sir,
This message might meet you in utmost surprise; however, it's just the urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.
I represent the interest of a client, whom as a result of the sensitive nature of the position he occupies and the recent political development in Ukraine wishes to relocate his funds abroad and secure it from inflation through investment.
Please let me know your response to an offer to receive investment funds in cash if:
1. The said fund amounts to Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand (US) Dollars.
2. The said fund is in cash and will be transferred to you in same state.
3.The fund is intended to be invested through your agency in the purchase of facilities and assets, for the said purposes within your country.
4.The fund will be under your investment control for seven years during which only the profit will be shared annually 70% for the owner and 30% for you annually.
The establishment of this joint business venture will be carried out in a manner consistent with the prevailing international laws and that of your country guiding such an investment.
Please contact me if you are interested for further details, do also include your private phone number for more discussions on this.
Expecting your urgent response
Yours Sincerely,
Mathan Sabeen
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Anti-fraud resources:
