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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 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. )
- "contract award committee" (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.
- 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.
- chidimmajohnsonnig@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Chidimma Johnson <cjohnsonkingston@gmail.com>
Reply-To: chidimmajohnsonnig@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2015 02:34:42 -0700
Subject: RE:INQUIRY ON YOUR PRODUCTS :REPLY WITH E-BROCHURE FOR EVALUATION AND
SUBMISSION TO CRBDA.
Dear Sir/Madam,
We got your company information through an exhaustive search in the internet.
I got to know by privileged information that Cross River Basin
Development Authority has tender on your product's category.
My scope is basically to searching for companies to bid for the
contract on commission basis. I am due to receive 2% commission from
the seller/manufacturer in any successful contract done through my
recommendation.
I will like to make a preliminary presentation/introduction of your
company to the chairman of contract award committee Engineer Nicolas
Madu.
In view of the above, Could you please be kind enough to furnish me
with the following information to enable us present/introduce your
highly esteemed company Crbda.
1) Your e-brochure/catalog.
2) The Technical details of your product
3) Your company profile
I shall deploy all resources in my disposal to ensure a successful
bidding for your company.
You may include any information or document that you deem necessary to
helping us see through this.
I look forward to working with you.
Thank you as I await your prompt and positive response.
Regards,
Chidimma Johnson.
Note: Crbda is based in Nigeria -West Africa. Reply through my
email:chidimmajohnsonnig@gmail.com
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