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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "DANIEL KANGAMI" <danielkangami1984@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:55:00 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: VERY URGENT
Hello sir,
How are you doing today? I am glad to write you
this mail I know this will come as a surprise I
got your contact from my personal search I am
soliciting your assistance to help me receive my
late father's consignment.My name is Daniel
Kangami 23 years old and the only son of my late
parents Mr. and Mrs Robert Kangami My father
was a highly reputable businness magnet-(a cocoa
merchant) who operated in the capital of Ivory
coast during his days.
Before the death of my father he deposited
($15.5 Million United States Dollars) and 158
stones of diamondin a security company in Ghana
as containing family valuables please, i wish to
invest this money on a profitable business
venture in your country.
The reason I want the security company to ship
the consignments containing the money to your
country is because I needed a maximum
security/safety of my consignment and no body or
government organization can trace the where
about of the money, that is why i needed a
foreign beneficiary who will understand my
situation and be of help to me.
The Security company didn't know the real
content of the box, because it was deposited
under a secret arrangement as a family
valuables.
If you are interested to assist me to retrieve
it from the security company and have it sent to
you in your country, please get back to me as
soon as you receive my mail for more details. I
am willing to offer you 30% for your mutual
understanding.
Thank you.My sincere regards,
Daniel Kangami
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