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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "account in your country or any safer place" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Susan Sawadogo <susansawado4@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:56:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello.
Hello,
I am Susan Sawadogo from Republic of Burkina Faso. I am an Orphanage Child being that I lost my parents a couple of months ago. My father was a serving director of the Cotton exporting board until his untimely death.
He was assassinated last june by the rebels following the political uprising.Before his death he had a foreign account here in Republic of Burkina Faso up to the sum of US$10.3m which he told the bank was for the importation of cotton processing machine. I want you to do me a favour to receive this funds to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the foreign business associate to my late father.
I have plans to do investment in your country, such as real estate and industrial production.This is my reason of contacting you, i will offer you 40% of the money once we claim the money from the bank. Please if you are willing to assist me, indicating your interest in replying soonest.
Thanks and best regards.
Susan Sawadogo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
