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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: LUCIA KOFFI <lucia.koffi@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: lucia_koffi0010@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:49:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mrs.Lucia Koffi
>From Mrs.Lucia Koffi
My Dearest in Christ ,
I am the above named person. I am married to Mr Jacobs Koffi who before his death was a wealthy Cocoa Merchant here in Cote d'Ivoire We were married for 12 years without a child. Before the death of my husband we were both born again Christians.
My Husband left the sum of US$11.8million United States Dollars in a fix/suspence account in one of the prime bank.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last long due to cancer problem now. But the one that disturbs me most is my (H.B.P) high blood pressure sickness. Having known my condition I decided to seek for your kind assistance and gesture.
I have also decided to donate the fund to the Less Priviledged, Orphans and Charity Organisation and also to support churches for the work of God.
Please indicate your interest and willingness in this transaction by writing back to me through the above email address. I have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for your kind gesture and assitance.
I want your maximum cooperation and keep this as confidential for security reasons.
I am sincerely waiting for your kind and urgent response as soon as your receive this mail.
Thanks and God bless you.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs.Lucia Koffi
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Anti-fraud resources:
