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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:
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan 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.
- sandiabassy@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: sandi abassy <sandi.abassy@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: sandiabassy@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:27:05 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM SANDI ABASSY.
FROM SANDI ABASSY.
Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire,
West Africa.
Your Attention Please.
I am introducing myself as SANDI ABASSY the only child of late Mr Richard Abassy. My father was a very wealthy Cocoa merchant in Abidjan Ivory Coast; my father was poisoned to death by his business associates during one of their outings on a business trip.
Before the death of my father in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan, that he used my name as his only child for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates.
That due to the incessant political crisis in this country and to avoid been kill by his enemies I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose.
Furthermore, please indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be conclude within seven (7) days you signify your interest to assist me.
Anticipating hearing from you urgently at sandiabassy@yahoo.com
Thank you and May God bless.
Yours sincerely,
SANDI ABASSY
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