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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:
- 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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " SENATOR DAVID MARK" <info@un.org >
Reply-To: senatordavid.mark87@yahoo.com
Date: 24 Oct 2016 11:49:57 -0700
Subject: TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP!!
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Hello bixnfleisch@joewein.net,
In my search for a credible and capable business partner, I found
your contact and I wish to discuss a viable and confidential
business with you. My name is Senator David Mark, I am a Senator
of the Federal republic of Nigeria. I am looking to make a
private investment and I need a trusted partner not directly
known to me with the capacity to handle and receive a huge fund
transfer from my country through a government payment process
which I am currently presiding over.
We can have a meeting before we proceed to get more acquainted. I
need to know if I can trust you to be honest and discreet in
handling the affairs of this project and help me invest quietly
in your country. We can make a plan for a long term business
relationship. Kindly get back to me and let me know your
position.
Best Regards,
Sen David Mark.
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Anti-fraud resources:
