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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:
- "million 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Mr,Bahestell Pedro" <barrister_bpedro_ci@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: pedro_bahe@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:55:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Mr.PEDRO.BAHESTELLE
REQUEST FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.
Mr.PEDRO.BAHESTELLE
United of Ecowas communitte.
Greeting From Ivory Coast,
This message might meet you in (utmost surprise),however,it's just my urgent needs for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction.I am Attorney at LAW by profession from United Ecowas communitte and currently holding the post of Audit supervisor of outgoing fund from African Communities.
I have the opportunity of transfering the left over funds(US$32.5MILLION
DOLLARS)with bank By my client deceased customer late Richard Burson, who died on (Egypt Air Flight 990)along with his family on a plane crash below.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm.
Hence i am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/50 as a brotherhood.
If you agree to my business proposal.further details of the
transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail.
Thanks for your urgent contacts.
Respectfully
yours Regard
BA. PEDRO
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Anti-fraud resources:
