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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: barrister edolinkmoore <barrister.edolinkmoore@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: f_security_compan@w.cn
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:25:19 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Waits for your immedaitely response over this matter.
From The Desk of Rev Dr Ifamo Sina
Chi ,Dircetor General Manager of
Finance, Security Services Company Cotonou.
Attntion Dear.
Greeting to are the one that authorized any body to speak on your behalf over your Fund here.
If you did not please i will like you to study the attached picture very carefull and get back to us immedaitely but if we did not he from you we will not hesitate to commence payment to them.
The two gentle men was here telling us that you was involve in a fatal accident that you are unbale to work now, so in this reason you send them as your brothers to claim the fund on your behalf.
We have investigated this in our office and know that you will not by anywhere do that without contacting us that is why i decided to contact you before commencing with the payment to them.
I will not like you to hesitate on this matter onless you want us to release the Fund to them.
Waits for your immedaitely response over this matter.
Regards
Rev Dr Ifamo Sina Chi
The Director Finance,
SecurityServices,Company
Cotonou. Benin Du Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
