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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: dr linus mensah <drlinusmensahagency17@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 07:26:50 +0000
Subject: SUPPLY INQUIRY NEEDED
Dear sir/madam,
We are agent sourcing for reliable companies that can supply your products to ECOWAS Tender Board and other private organization here in Ghana and we are interested in your product,if you are interested send us your details specification and prices of each of your product or send us your catalog and we are entitle to 1% commission in each of your product so kindly add my 1% commission when sending me your prices of each of your product and once you send us your prices then we will give you the order and tell you the quantity needed.
Our payment terms is 100% full payment into your account before youstart the supply and the delivery time is 6 to 8 months.
If you are interested, do get back to us for more details,send us yourdetails specification and prices of your product or send us your catalog.
Dr linus d. mensahLinco Agency35 spintex road opposite total filling stationAccra Ghana+233 248768314.
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Anti-fraud resources:
