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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "keep this confidential" (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 "Yukos oil" scam. The criminals who send such emails have no connection to Yukos Oil. The emails are usually sent from Nigeria. The only money that ever changes hands in this scam is from you to the criminals.
Fraud email example:
From: "Askerov Dilgam" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <askerovdilgam111@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:45:33 -0000
Subject: Re: Greetings!
Dear friend,
I am ASKEROV DILGAM and I represent Mr. Mikhail Khordokovsky the former
C.E.O of Yukos Oil Company in Russia. I have a very sensitive and confidential
brief from this top (oligarch) to ask for your partnership in re-profiling
funds in the amount of US$46 Million (Forty six million United States
Dollars). I will give you the details after I have received your response
signifying your interest in this project. In summary, the funds are still
lying in the security deposit of an offshore bank in Europe. I suggest
that you open an account with the bank to transfer the total amount to your
personal bank account as the beneficiary. This is a legitimate transaction.
You will be paid 20% as your commission/compensation for your active efforts
and contribution to
the success of this transaction. You can catch more of the story on this
website below or you can watch more of CNN or BBC to get more news
about my boss:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3213505.stm
http://www.nndb.com/people/633/000025558/
If you are interested, please do indicate responding back to my email
address and I will provide further details
and instructions. Please keep this confidential as we cannot afford more
political problems. Kindly send me your response as soon as possible.
I look forward to it.
Regards,
ASKEROV DILGAM
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