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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 would like to apply through this medium for your co-operation" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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:
Date:
Subject: you are called
Dear trusted one
Best compliments.
I would like to apply through this medium for your co-operation and to =
secure an opportunity to invest and do joint business with you in your =
country. I have a substantial capital I honorably intend to invest in y=
our country into a very lucrative venture of which you are to advise an=
d execute the said venture over there for the mutual benefits of both o=
f us.
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend t=
o establish in your country. Though we have not met before but I strong=
ly believe we now have to risk confiding in someone to succeed from my =
present situation and for the best of my future.
i am Salucy Ibrahim the son of late Chief Tom O Ibrahim Northern part o=
f Federal republic of Sierra Leone. Due to the series of continious war=
in our country for multiple years ago, there is this huge amount of tw=
entytwo million, U.S dollars($22,000,000.00) which our late father kept=
for us in a security storage house here in Abidjan
I am presently in refugee camp here in Abidjan where the money was been=
deposited in the private security company by my late father and he tol=
d me that I should look for someone who has a legitimate company abroad=
to help me claim the trunk box from the security company to his or her=
country for investments, I believe that as an advanced person and a le=
gitimate business person you are that you will not betray the trust I a=
m about to impose on you..=20
As soon I hear from you I will be sure that I am dealing with a liable =
person, then I shall give you the contact information=E2=80=99s of the =
security company so that you can contact them for any question / discus=
sion on how the transaction would be done
Mr Salucy Ibrahim=20
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