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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- davemaurice156@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Dave Maurice" <office.davemaurice01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davemaurice156@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 07:50:22 -0700
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU??
Good day
I have a deal of Eleven Million Eight Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars Only.($68.8M) Sixty Eight Million Eight Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars Only in my department and i need a trust
worthy person overseas who will help me to receive the money in 70% for
me and 30% for you but all the whole money will be hold by him on trust
pending when i will come with my entire families to invest my share
of the money.
If you are interested send down the following personal details to me and
as soon i hear from you i will proceed but you are advised to keep
every thing regards to this business very confidential and secretly.
(1)Full names:........................ .....
(2)Occupation:................ ..............
(3)Age and Sex:..........................
(4)Marital Status:.......................
(5)Private mobile phone and fax numbers in
any:..................
(6)Current residential address:..............
Bear in mind that this is absolutely a private and personal deal,
nonofficial; and should be treated with all measure of secrecy and
confidentiality. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter via my
office e-mail address: davemaurice156@yahoo.co.uk
I am waiting for your urgent reply and please confirm the receipt of
this vital message and keep every thing concerning this transaction
secretly.
DAVE MAURICE
Tel: +234 8187-239428
Fax: +234: 2626373-78,
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