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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- 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.
- laarni_enriquez_form@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: <laarni_enriquez_me@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:45:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PLEASE REPLY
Please excuse me if I have infringed into your privacy. I am Madam Laarni Enriquez, a Filipino by nationality, And once President Joseph Estrada courier mistress. Honestly I would like to have an investment and confidant relationship with you; if possible entrusting my life time fortune into
your possession, as now I am broken hearted and needs someone to trust, without remembering my past and forsaken experiences from close confidants and family. All I want from you is to assist me make claims of some funds I concealed in a metallic trunk box deposited in a security company in Cote
D'voire. The Amount deposited is much about 10.5 Million United states dollars. Reply to laarni_enriquez_form@yahoo.co.jp for details.
Best regards,
Madam Laarni Enriquez'
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