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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- emekaadamu56@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR. EMEKA IBEME" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emekaadamu56@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:06:10 +0100
Subject: reply asap
Barrister Emeka Ibeme
Emeka Ibeme Chambers
201 Kufor Kwame street
Accra-Ghana
Tel/Fax; +233 242870426
Attn; Sir
I am representing a client that has investment interest in your country My client is a top government official in ACCRA GHANA, West Africa that has about US$18,000,000.00 ( Eighteen Million United States Dollars) ready for investment.
I have received directive to seek for a reliable partner in your country that will be worthy and willing to go into partnership with my client in the investment of this fund, You are to recommend viable areas of the economy to be invested in. You should among other things provide logistics proving that the area suggested will make for a wise investment.
Fund will be released to you for investment if my client is satisfied with your suggestions after normal
signing of contract and partnership agreement to protect all interests in the project. Please note that fund owner desires absolute confidentiality and professionalism in handling this project.
I expect prompt response to my alternative E-mail Address at (emekaadamu56@gmail.com)
Yours sincerely,
Barr. Emeka Ibeme
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