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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: nancy williams <williams@maillingplus.com>
Reply-To: nancy_williams@hotmail.fr
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 08:47:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear beloved One,
Dear beloved One,
It is my pleasure to send you this details of my life for a sincere relationship and for the fact that i am in need of your commit zeal to assist me on this important matter. I hope you will honour my mail and reply with your kindness I will begin by introducing myself to you.
My name is Miss Nancy Williams 19yrs old . Native Sierra Leone I am a student at the University My Father died 2years ago and left me and mother the sum of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars (USD$4.500,000) The death of my late father gave my mother serious intensive illness which killed her in few months after my late fathers death. I live in the house of our great grand Mother in Sierra Leone our home country before i decide to come over to Ivory Coast here to seek the release of my deposit inheritance in the security company custody.
But my problem is that I need the assistance of a reliable and responsible foreigner to assist me retrieves this consignment box. This money is packaged in a box together with our other family valuables. i will like you to help me receive this box in your country then i will come over to your country and continue my education while this money will be invested in any good business in your country.
I want to do this clearance outside the concept of my uncle because first, i am warned not to trust him or any of the family member because the death of my late father lays on his fortune and it was masterminded by them and they may also kill me according to the warning my mother gave me before she passed away .Please, I have the great pleasure in confiding this matter to you for help if you can honour my mail as i honour you and give me your sincere love and kindness regarding my request and myself.
I promise to offer you 25% from the total sum if you will help me.
Thanks You
Miss Nancy Williams
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