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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abdal_fattah@voila.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Abdal fattah <abdal_fatt06@msn.com>
Reply-To: <abdal_fattah@voila.fr>
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:27:34 +0000
Subject: Urgent message
Urgent message
FROM THE OFFICE OF MR Abdal Fattah
THE CHIEF AUDITOR INCHARGE
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO
WEST AFRICA.
Please call me on +22675145555
Reply to this E-mail (abdal_fattah@voila.fr)
Dear Partner,
I am the Director in charge of Auditing section in the Afican Development Bank Group,I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($9.300.000) million immediately to your account.I will send you full details on how the business will be executed and also note that you will have some percentage of the above mentioned amount if you agree to help me execute this business,
Now permit me to ask some few questions.
1. Can you honestly help me as your partner?
2. Can i completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is transfer to your country?
4.Can you help me to come over to your country an d further my educational carrier?
5.Can you assure me of the confidentiality of this transaction, So that when coming in to your country there would not be focus of attention?
Waiting for your urgent reply and God bless you
(FILL THIS FORM BELLOW PLEASE AND RESEND IT TO ME)
1) Your Full Name:-...............................
2) Your Age:-...........................................
3) Marital Status:-..................................
4) Your Cell Phone Number:-............
5) Your Fax Number:-........................
6) Your Country:-.............................
7) Your Occupation:-....................
8) Sex.............................................
9) Your Religion:-......................
10) Your Private E-mail Adress:.....
Yours sincerely
Mr.Abdal Fattah
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