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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "OPPORTUNITIES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <investmentproget@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2017 11:31:13 +0200
Subject: Re: OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT
HELLO,
I AM LOOKING FOR AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD WHERE I CAN PUT IN A HUGE AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY BY EMAIL AND WE SHALL DISCUSS THE MODALITIES OF THE
INVESTMENT AND HOW TO MOVE THE FUNDS TO YOU AFTER AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED.
KINDLY SEND TO ME IN YOUR NEXT MAIL YOUR PRIVATE/DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ENABLE ME DISCUSSES THE
MODALITIES BETTER WITH YOU ON PHONE BEFORE WE PROCEED FURTHER.
REGARDS,
SALUT,
JE CHERCHE UNE OPPORTUNITE D'INVESTISSEMENT DANS N'IMPORTE QUEL SECTEUR DACTIVITE OU JE PEUX APPORTER MES
CAPITAUX.
S'IL VOUS PLAIT SI VOUS ETES INTERESSE, CONTACTEZ-MOI IMMEDIATEMENT PAR COURRIEL ET NOUS ALLONS DISCUTER
DES MODALITES DE L'INVESTISSEMENT ET COMMENT FAIRE POUR DEPLACER LES FONDS A VOUS APRES L'ACCORD
INTERVENU ENTRE LES PARTIES IMPLIQUEES.
VEUILLEZ M ENVOYER DANS VOTRE PROCHAIN MAIL VOTRE NUMERO DE TELEPHONE PRIVE/DIRECT POUR ME PERMETTRE DE
DISCUTER DES MODALITES DE TRANSFERT AVEC VOUS AU TELEPHONE AVANT TOUTES PROCEDURES.
MERCI.
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