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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:
- 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- jeanvillian@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: mass bomb <massbomb5@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:18:30 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL
I am Mr. Jean Villian,currently working as the head of strategy at Abu
Dhabi investment authority (ADIA). Abu Dhabi United
Arab Emirate. I am contacting you based on satisfactory information I had
about your country during my last official visit
to United States on a financial conference with other Gulf countries.
I am soliciting for your private indulgence in transferring US$ 9.7 million
United States dollars into any reliable bank
Account overseas. This fund was generated from over-invoicing of contracts
executed by Abu Dhabi investment authority
(ADIA) under my control and supervision. This fund is now ready to be
remitted into any Account I may put forward to that
purpose. What I want from you is a good and reliable company or personal
Account into which the bank shall transfer this
fund).
However, upon a receipt of your reply an application shall be made in your
name to the bank for approval and immediate
transfer which shall be by SWIFT (Telegraphic transfer), copies of the
approval and other relevant documents shall be
faxed to you for your perusal. Please treat as strictly confidential for
obvious reasons. At the conclusion of this
transaction I am giving you 40% of the total amount also I assure you that
your involvement should you decide to assist me
will be well protected, this business proposal is 100% risk free as the
remittance will be made through the legal
procedures. Note: your discussions regarding this transaction should be
limited because I am still in government service.
I intend to end my contract peacefully at the end of this transaction.
However, your prompt reply will be highly
appreciated via my private email address: jeanvillian@hotmail.com
Best Regards.
Jean Villian.
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