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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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- lougeorge334@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Louis George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lougeorge334@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:40:04 +0200
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED.
Dear Sir/Madam. INVESTMENT Assistance needed.
I am Mr. Louis George, Operations Manager at ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI Of South Africa, I will be retiring by end of this year as I want to use this opportunity to create for my children life investment oversea before I retired, in my department I have been following up with some funds since last 6 years now I want to transfer this money to your account for investment for my son, the amount involve is (Foury Million Five Hundred Sixty Eight Thousand United States Dollars) this money comes as over interest in ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI insurance bond. I never steal it from anybody as I am a God fearing person.
If you are ready to help me receive this money in your account i will give 30% of this fund and the balance of 70% will be for my son investment in your country. I will open a Nonresident account in your name here in a bank and move the funds into the new Account; which will allow you transfer money to any account of your choice in your country. Kindly provide this below information to enable us proceed.
Full Name
Full Address
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Mobile Number:
Private Email:
Age:
Occupation:
Country of Origin:
Sex:
Marital Status:
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Thanks and god bless
Mr Louis George
74 Sandown, linden road
Johannesburg South Africa
TEL: +27 603 966 234
Email: lougeorge334@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
