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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:
- "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. )
- "abidjan" (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: Rita Coulibaly <f.box@infinito.it>
Reply-To: ritacoulibaly@ymail.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:14:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: wa alaikum assalaam Ms. Rita Coulibaly (Confidencial).
wa alaikum assalaam Ms. Rita Coulibaly (Confidencial).
Abidjan Cote d'ivore.
Dearest,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish in your country.Although I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding to succeed sometimes in life.
I am Ms. Rita Coulibaly an orphan presently living with sorrows and pain all alone at this tender age, 21 years old from Sierra leone, daughter of Mr & Mrs Coulibaly and my father was the Secretary and Personal Assistant to former Sierra leone president. I have 19.5 million USD which was deposited by my father before he was assasinated by unknown persons.
My father left this money in a security company as family valuables in cote d'Ivoire a nearby country. I seek your permision to help me claim this money to your country or any country of your choice so that i could come to your country for investment and to further my studies. I want you to help me retrieve this money from the security company and delivery it to your country or any country of your choice for investment purposes on these areas or any area you feel will be ok:
1). Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate
5). My Education
If you can be of an assistance to me i will be pleased to offer to you 30% Of the total money and i will also like you to give me the following informations below.
1. Full Name:...................
2. Complete Address:.....................
3. Present Country....................
4. Valid Contact Phone Numbers:.............
5. Sex:............ Age:........
6. Occupation:....................
My dear right now i am in the UN camp where i am taking refuge because of the politicial crisis that is going on in this country cote d'Ivoire now you can see this website for confirmation
( http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1227/1224286314958.html ), Please my dear i really need your help so that i will live the condition soonest.
I await your soonest response by the grace of Allah.
Respectfully yours,
Ms. Rita Coulibaly.
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