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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: DR OJIOFOR EMAENSY <barristerojioforemensy@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 04:18:28 -0700
Subject: from ojoiforemensy
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*Dear Friend,I'm sorry to have contacted you unawares.I have a young
innocent girl that I want you to take care of in your Country and put her
in a good school for her to have a better life. She is from Sudan where
they have a Civil war but she is a refugee now in Ghana for the safety of
her life.She has enough funds to take care of her education and a better
life in your place. The killings there(Sudan) by the rebel Soldiers are so
much that many innocent children have lost their parents.Her parents were
targeted by the rebels and killed for being part of the interim Government
in Sudan leaving her with an inheritance of $8.600.000(Eight million & six
hundred thousand US dollars) and also 86 kilos of gold which he kept
somewhere else. You would be entitled to 30% of this funds if you adopt
this young girl and help her settle down in your place as your child and
help her get a good education. You will use her 70% to enroll her in a good
school and you can invest the money for her. This is my humble request to
help this little girl to secure her future again and you should know that
this is not all about making profit but just for you to show your kindness
towards this girl, I believe strongly that you can be of help due to your
philanthropic nature. I will be waiting to hear from you,so we can proceed
to the next level which is the adoption process before you can suggest on
possible means to get the fund transferred into your designated Bank
account and the gold.Best regardsBarrister Ojiofor Emensy Esq.Ojiofor &
AssociatesNo:52 Castle Road, OsuAccra - Ghana.*
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