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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: alfred wallace <alfredwallace4real@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:51:49 +0100
Subject: Greetings
Greetings
With warm heart I offer my friendship and greetings, and I hope that this
mail will meets you in good time. However strange or surprising this
contact might seem to you as we have not met personally or had any dealings
in the past. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance
and immense benefit. My name is Alfred Williams from Republic of
Sierra-Leone. I have something very important that I would like to confide
in you please, I have a reasonable amount of money which I inherited from
my late father (Eleven Million Five Hundred thousand United States Dollar)
US$11.5 million which I want to invest in your country with you and again
in a very profitable venture. Currently I am residing in Ivory Coast now
with my younger sister Janet Williams where my late father deposited the
money, so I will like you to reply me immediately so that I will give you
more details about everything. I am expecting your reply for more
explanation. Please I am urgently waiting for your response and I am
conceding 15% of this money to you for your efforts assistance.
I will wait to hear from you.
Thanks and God bless you.
Alfred and Janet Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
