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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: nelly pascal <ne_pascal104@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: ne_pas_cal@yahoo.in
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:30:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear loving one ,
Dear loving one ,
My name is Miss Nelly Pascal, I am writing from Ivory Coast in West Africa. I am from a good Christian family, with God fearing character. Please I will like you to deeply read a meaning to my mail if you are in position to accept my request or you will look for some one who is really in need of a
daughter and knows the value of a child.
Therefore I want to know if you will adopt me as your daughter or any other thing, your wealth is not interesting me but if you will take me as your own and I promise that I will be a good child to you also ready to offer any assistance a child can offer to his parent's to enable us live in peace
and joy to serve the Lord our God with all our heart.
Secondly I will like you to assist me retrieve the money my father deposited in security company. Before his death he told me that he has the sum of four million seven hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$4.700,000) deposited in one of the security company in Abidjan as a family valuables
that the security company did not know the contents of the box is money.
He further told me that he deposited the box in his name and finally issued a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of all the necessary but legal documents to this box and the company.
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.
Finally any other information you will like to know I am willing to discuss it with you.
Also beware that this decision is from my real heart and I will not like you to take it as a joke or tricks.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
May God almighty bless you and your family.
Yours
Miss Nelly Pascal.
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