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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:
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "kofi baah" <support@firstgiving.com>
Reply-To: "kofibaah210@hotmail.com" <kofibaah210@hotmail.com>
Date: 3 May 2010 12:53:55 +0100
Subject: urgent
Attn Greetings to you,
I am Hon Dr John A King. I am the United Nations Presidential Task Force
Chairman for Refugees here in Accra Ghana. I here by pass this information to you
that the Members of the Parliament is looking for capable God fearing person who can represent as one of the new appointed Ambassador to the African refugees.
The meeting was held on monday morning in the castle House in OSU after reconciled with the agreement we have with United State President Mr.Barrack Obama during his visit in Ghana last year 2009. Therefor your name has been nominated as one of the God fearing trust person who can handle this post very carefully and become Ambassador for the African Refugees.
Mean while this appointment is not conpulsary or by any force to be among. The first 6 month's salaries for all the new appointed members is $20,000.00.USD. with acomodation and a private saloon car.
I want you to forward all your details informations to us so that we can pass your
details to the United Nation Head Office in England and America to enable
United Nation Head Office in England and America put your name in the
registration Book for this appointment and send you official letter regarding this appointment.
I wait to Hear from you.
Dr. John A King
The Presidential Task force Chairman
United Nations Head Quarter Accra Ghana
Accra Ghana.
*** About donating online ***
It's very easy to support kofi online - visit: http://www.firstgiving.com/kofibaah to make a donation.
It takes a matter of minutes, is totally secure and you can even leave a message with your donation.
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Anti-fraud resources:
