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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.
- mrjamesmotlatsi1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. James Motlatsi" <infoweb@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrjamesmotlatsi1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:03:31 +0200
Subject: ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI
Dear Sir/Madam. I am Mr. James Motlatsi, transformation and Human Resources=
Development Chairman at ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI Of South Africa, I will be reti=
ring by end of this year as I want to use this medium to create opportunity=
for my children life investment overseas before I retired, in my departmen=
t 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 =
involved is (Twenty Two Million Five Hundred Sixty Eight Thousand United St=
ates Dollars) this money comes as over interest in ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI insur=
ance bond. I never steal it from anybody as I am a God fearing person. I go=
t your contact from the internet in search of a business oriented individua=
l or companies that can help me receive and invest this money. If you are r=
eady 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 Non-resident account in your name here in a bank and move the=
funds into the new Account; which will allow you transfer money to any acc=
ount 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: Ma=
rital Status: I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arr=
angement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Thanks and god b=
less Mr. James Motlatsi Email:mrjamesmotlatsi1@gmail.com
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