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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams 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 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 sum 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)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "SUSSANA DIARRE" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 13:55:10 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE PLEASE
Hello
Compliment of the day to you .
My name is Sussana Diarre ,i am female 26years old from the Republic of Sudan ,but i am presently in Ghana as a refugee.
Please forgive me for contacting you in this manner ,but due to the urgency of my case i decided to contact you for urgent assistance .
My late father was a very wealthy Diamond dealer before his untimely death ,but before his death he deposited some huge sum of money in a Security company in Ghana ,as we speak now i have been able to transfer these funds via the help of a foreign beneficiary in Malaysia .
My funds which is amounting to the sum of $9million dollars is presently at the Malaysia International Airport with a United Nations Diplomatic officer and this is the reason i am contacting you to help me contact the diplomat and then claim the consignment box into your possesion and then make arrangement for me to come over to join you in your country to start a new life .
I am willing to compensate you with the sum of 30% for your assistance .
If you are interested kindly forward the following informations across to me and then i will send you my identification and put you across to the diplomatic delivery officer .
I will be very glad to hear from you .
Sincerely
Miss Sussana Diarre
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