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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.
- 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.
- graymichel@consultant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Gray <wpwp005@gmail.com>
Reply-To: graymichel@consultant.com
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2017 07:53:37 -0800
Subject: Proposition for Joint Venture
From: Michael Gray
Sonangol E.P
Merevale House, Brompton Pl,
Knightsbridge, London SW3 1QE, UK
For attention of: Sir/madam
The purpose of this letter is to formally seek your assistance for
successive investment in your country. As a Procurement and Supply
Chain Assistant at Angolan National Oil Firm Sociedade Nacional de
CombustÃveis de Angola [Sonangol] United Kingdom. I can confirm that
this project is legitimate and the fund an outgrowth from Debt
Recovery/ Management and Restructuring through crude-oil sells and
supplies. You will be required to Advice on lucrative areas of
investment in your country and also manage the fund in a profitable
business in your region with good Annual Return on Investment (AROI).
If you decide to render your service in this regard you would be
adequately rewarded for your responsibility. The Strategy is to use my
influence as an executive and provide you with the relevant
information to enable you put in application for disbursement of the
fund to you.
I trust that you are capable to handle this project and I certainly
look forward to your participation by sending your full information
after consideration via my email: graymichel@consultant.com.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Gray
[Procurement and Supply Chain Assistant]
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Anti-fraud resources:
