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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. )
- "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Christian Duke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <christian_duke1@centrum.sk>
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:08:28 -0000
Subject: From Christian Duke
>From Mr Favour Mutah
Abidjan Republic of Cote D'Ivoire.West Africa
Dear
My Name is Mr Christian Duke the only Son of Mr and Mrs Duke i am 20 year old My father was a very wealthy Gold Merchant in Monrovia the Gold Capital of republic of Liberia all in west africa.
Before the death of my father on 14th September 2008 my father told me that he deposited sum of (USD $15 MILLION FIFTEEN MILLION U.S DOLLARS ) in a security company here in Cote D'ivoire that he make agreement with the security company that this money will deliver cash out of this country, now my purpose of contacting you is for you to help me to receive this total money cash.
Now I'm now hiding in a local place here I will compensate you with 20% of this money if you help me to receive this money cash and l hope you will not betray the trust i have on you because this money is my only hope in this life and you will also help me to come over to your country to continue my education while you will invest my own share of the money for me.
I am waiting to hear from you.
>From Christian Duke
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Anti-fraud resources:
