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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22558778012 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Beverly Maron <bevmaron_20@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:28:58 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT!!! I wish to invest my funds in your country
Greetings,
I wish to request for an investment advice from you and also go into business partnership with you. I would like to invest huge amount of funds in Energy sectors , into Real Estates and other profitable businesses in your country.
I do believe that you will not betray my trust which i am going to lay on you.I do apologize to have approached you in this way.I strongly believe that this investment project i wish to carry out in your country will be treated with urgency and favorable attention .
My name is Miss Beverly Maron , i am 20years of age. I am the only child and daughter of the Special adviser on financial matters to the former Minister of Mines and Energy under the former President of my country Cote d'Ivoire.
My late father was also into Cocoa & Coffee exportation and also into Oil & Gas export. On the night of 15th of January 2011 during the political unrest here in my country he was stabbed several times to death, while my late mother was raped and killed by group of unknown gunmen. They also looted all the properties in our house and then set the house on fire.
My late father before his death had deposited in a Financial Institution here in Cote d'Ivoire in a dormant account a sum of $15.5m {Fifteen million five hundred thousand United States dollars} which was meant for the importation of mining equipments . I need your assistance for the transfer of this funds to a safe account in your country and you will act as the co-beneficiary because my life is in danger here.
I will give you 10% of this fund for your cordial assistance .
Tel:- +225 5877 8012
Thanks
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Anti-fraud resources:
