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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:
- "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: "Mr.melilla Ceuta" <ceutamr.melilla@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:18:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: My Dear
My dear,
I am glad to inform you that I have succeeded in claiming the fund with the co-operation of the new partner in the United Kingdom. I am now in London with the new partner.
Though you were not able to help me to the end which I beleive may be one reason or the other, but I remember your commitment at the begining. For this reason I cannot afford to have all this money to myself alone because my conscience is against it, so I have decided to thank you with this little token of mine.
I kept a bank draft of $200,000 for you with my driver (Mr. Victor Okon) in Benin. Contact him immediately and give him your address where you want the Draft to be sent to. He have my instruction to send the Draft to you omce you send your address to him.
His name is MR.VICTOR OKON
E-mail: vokon2@ymail.com
Cotonou-Benin.
Regards,
Mr.Ceuta Melilla.
Send your address to my driver in Beni
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Anti-fraud resources:
