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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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found 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.
- s_parh@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Siamak" <siam4@siam01.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <s_parh@aim.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2015 18:20:44 +0100
Subject: Sense Of Humility
Hello,
I am writing from the hospital with my computer lap top. This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind; but please, consider it as a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility.
Presently, I have been undergoing treatment for Oesophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I won't live more than 2 months according to medical report. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them the last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash that I have with a Private Storage Company in Europe. I will want you to help me collect this money and dispatched it to charity organizations.
All I need from you is your sincere assistance I do not need any financial help from you because I have enough and if money can save me I also have enough as I don't know what will happen to me in the next few hours.
I need you to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to any charity homes of your choice so that when I die my soul can rest in peace. I pray God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives that is my main concern. 30% of this money will be for your time and effort, while 70% goes to charity.
If you are ready to work with me please reply me to my private email: (s_parh@aim.com) to enable me give you full details of our plans to success.
Sincerely yours
Mr. Siamak
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