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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- brightm88@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: bright moon <brightm88@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 23:46:49 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REPLY
Bright Moon & Associates(Solicitors & Advocates)Reply using Email:brightm88@yahoo.com
Dear Sir/Madam
I am the attorney to Mrs Aminat a wife to one of the immediate past ministers of Syrian government   and based upon her instructions and directives I am contacting you.
My above client are urgently searching for a reliable foreigner to assist her for a mutual business benefit.
Be informed that  Mrs Aminat a wife to one of the immediate past ministers of Syrian govt. which is now in disarray by Islamic Militants and her  husband was captured,detained and Killed  by Islamic militants .
She  succeeded in running away from Syria with her only one son whom she  decided now to use the  money in the family to send him out of her country and establish  a business for him with the sum of Nine Million U.S. Dollars ($9.000,000.00) but unfortunately the son is  still at a tender age, can not handle such project. The Money is Currently Deposited in an offshore Security Account by the Now late Husband.
Therefore she appealed to me to contact any foreigner who will  use his/her wild business experience to take care of her son and invest this money properly for him in your country because the  militants are still hunting for him as she  will not like them to kill him as she is currently  now advanced and old can no longer travel to places but will appreciate and ready to agree on a 30% for your helping  or joint business venture if you accept to assist her offer,
If interested and reliable please contact me for more details via Email: brightm88@yahoo.com with your Full Names/ Address & Telephone Data.
I await your urgent response.Â
Regards,Bright Moon EsqAttorney at law
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