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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- carltway@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: carlton conneh <carltonconneh3@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:21:42 +0100
Subject: peace of the lord be with you as you reply me i am an orphane God
bless you as you reply
good day,
i will like to introduce my self to you and to also inform you on how
i get your contact.i got your contact from the internet.and i don't
know you but i pray to God to give me a good helper that will not
betray me and will treat me like his or her own son and to God be the
glory i have found you may the good lord bless you and your family
amen.
i am carlton conneh by name i am a Liberia base here in Ghana as an
orphan.but never the less i am telling you this all for you to help me
claim what belongs to me. which was kept here in Ghana by my late
father before he was kill by his young brother.my late father told me
when he was are life that he kept some trunks boxes contain some Gold
and Diamond and some money worthy 3.4 million dollars in a security
house for safe keeping here in Accra now i need your help to help me
claim this boxes to your country and help me to invest it in a
profitable business in your country.i will also like you to help me
get an invitation to enable me come to you in your country and invest
this fund please i belive so much in God and i hope that you have the
fear of God in you please do try as much as you cant to help me hope
to hear from you soon so that will can proceed.and i promise to give
you 10% if you help me please reply me to carltway@gmail.com
thanks
carlton
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Anti-fraud resources:
