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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:
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "SESE ZUGULU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zugulu.sese@ymail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:25:40 -0800
Subject: RE:
ATTN:Sir,
My name is Sese Zugulu a Zimbabwean citizen presently taking to refugee in Ghana. Due to crises in my Country coupled with the assassination of my late father Mr.Desmond Zugulu. Who was killed by President Robert Mugabe war veteran associate who are calling for the white farm land from all white settlers which I think is wrong.
My father due to his stand over these issues fell out with the ruling party of President Robert Mugabe. Now my Mother and my kid sister had to flee from our Country to find refuge here in GHANA. Before the death of my Father he was a major dealer of Diamond and Merchandise He secretly moved these funds acquired from various sales in two trunk-boxes and Deposited it in a Funds Security Deposit Company in Ghana.
At the time of Deposit he informed the Security Company that it contains family valuables that are in the Boxes. The Total amount contained in the two boxes is $20 MILLION USD and 50Kg of Gold Dust this unknown to the Security Company. Please I want you to know that when my father heard of the plot by Robert Mugabe to kill him, he instructed the Security Company in Ghana to move the boxes containing the Money to a safer security company overseas with instruction to deliver documents to me his next of kin .
Unfortunately ,he was killed. The boxes are presently secured Overseas
We have all the Vital Documents with us, We need a trust Worthy God fearing and experienced person that will help us to retrieve this fund and place the money into a safe offshore account where the money could be further invested upon mutual agreement.As foreigners it is almost difficult for us to open foreign accounts hence this request.
For your support youwill be highly compensated as we are to give you 20% of the total sum.
If you are interested please send me your,
1) Full names:
2) private Telephone and Fax numbers:
3) current residential address:
4) Age:
5) Occupation:
I will be looking forward to your swift response.Please note that this transaction is risk free as long as you follow instructions as given.
Sincere greetings,
SESE ZUGULU
FOR THE FAMILY.
Tel;+233542405460
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