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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- aaaallliimahyak@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: alimah yak <johnsoncoroma1@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: aaaaaalimahyak00@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 9 May 2010 10:23:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: COME TO MY HELP
Dear Beloved Friend,
I know this message will come to you as surprised but permit me of my
desire to go into business relationship with you.
I am Miss alimah yak a daughter to late Justin yak of Sudan who died on a
plane crash in May 2 2008 in Sudan, my late father was the presidential
adviser for local government affairs in Sudan- Khartoum. Meanwhile before
the incident, my late Father came to Cotonou Benin republic with the sum
of USD8, 200,000.00 (US$8.2M) which he deposited in a Financial and
Security Institution here in Cotonou Benin Republic West Africa for
security reasons. I am here seeking for an avenue to transfer this money
to a reliable and trustworthy person for Investment purpose.
I am here in Benin Republic because of the death and the crisis in my
Country Sudan. Please I will offer you 20% of the total sum of USD8.2m for
your assistance. Please I need to transfer this money urgently because
delay would not help at all and I need to relocate based on my situation
so as to enable me continue my education as I was medical student before
the sudden death of my father.contact me my privet email adress
aaaallliimahyak@yahoo.ca) immediate response would be appreciated.
Best regards
miss alimah yak
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