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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:
- "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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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)
- "adelineichengini111@fastwebmail.it" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Adeline Ichengini" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <adelineichengini111@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:54:50 +0100
Subject: From Miss Adeline Ichengini
Good day
I did not hear back from you concerning the information's I sent you the other day; but in case you did not
receive the letter introducing my intent. I am Miss. Adeline
Ichengini, 22yrs old; Before the incident that caused the life of my
father, He told me how he secretly concealed sum huge amount of money
in US dollars into a trunk box, the box was deposited in a Security
Company on my name as the next of kin; the money was realized from his
gold dust he sold years back and that was why his uncle poisoned him.
The issued documents that cover the deposit are intact and well secured
and this is why I need your assistance as my late fathers foreign
partner to put up claims to this trunk box.
I intend offering you some percentage for your assistance and any expenses incurred along
the line. I will also empower you with a letter of authority as my
foreign trustee to this box with all necessary documentations. All I
need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me that
you can in all honesty and sincerity render assistance to me.
Any delay in response to this mail may compel me to source for other
measures or perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy
to. Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbelievable
opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist
the less privileged one in truth and in spirit with a substance.
You To Contact My Direct E-mail Given Below :
[adelineichengini111@fastwebmail.it]
I await your immediate response.
Adeline
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Anti-fraud resources:
