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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. )
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: MAY HARAM <mayharam234@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: may.haram@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:55:48 +0100 (BST)
Subject: HI
HELLO MY DEAR.
I AM MISS MAY HARAM, PLAESE I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY LATE FATHER MR.JOSEPH HARAM. LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED. THIS MONEY IS THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDREN THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS AND THE MONEY IS IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN.
MEANWHILE THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE REAL CONTENT TO BE MONEY THAT IS THE WAY THAT MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED THE MONEY BEFORE HE DIED, HE DEPOSITED IT AS FAMILY VALUABLE ITMES SUCH AS GOLD JEWLERIES AND DIAMOND AND IT WAS AS A RESULT OF THIS MONEY THAT HE WAS KILLED.
BEFORE HE DIED HE TOLD ME TO LOOK FOR A TRUST WORTHY FELLOW IN ANY COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE THAT WILL ASSIST ME WITHOUT BETRAYAL THAT IS WHY I HAVE CONTACTED YOU IN THIS REGARD.I WILL OFFER YOU 40% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR HELPING ME TO RECIEVE THE CONSIGNMENT.
MY FATHER MR.JOSEPH HARAM WAS A VERY RICH COCOA FARMER AND HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS COLLEAGUES WHO HAPPENS TO BE HIS UNCLES AND BROTHERS.AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY GUARDIAN TO RECEIVE THE CONSIGNMENT ON MY BEHALF I LOST MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS JUST 4 YEARS OLD.
YOU WILL MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION WHILE YOU MANAGE THE MONEY FOR ME UNTIL I AM THROUGH WITH MY EDUCATION.
THE POLITICAL CRISIS HERE HAVE REALLY MADE LIFE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME FEEDING IS JUST BY CHARITY AND I AM STAYING AT THE REFUGE CAMP OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
ALL MY FATHER’S RELATIVES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACES LOOKING FOR ME SO THAT THEY CAN KILL ME AND INHERIT MY LATE FATHER’S WEALTH.
I HAVE THE DOUCMENTS HERE WITH ME AND I WILL SEND THEM TO YOU AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM AND ALSO GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE SECURITY COMPANY SO THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THEM.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
MISS MAY HARAM.
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