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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. )
- "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)
- "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: Favour E Kwaku <favourkwakue@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: favourekwaku@ymail.com
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:05:00 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Help Needed!
My Beloved Friend,It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish in your country.
There is an amount of (US$6.3M) which my late Husband deposited with a security company in Abidjan Capital city of Cote d Ivoire which he wanted to use for his political ambition in our Country before he was assassinated.
Now I have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside here for security and political reasons. I want you to help me claim and receive the consignment in your name from the security company's affiliate outside Cote Ivoire through diplomatic means or you come down here in Cote Ivoire for you to visit the security company together with my lawyer for the claim in your name to avoid any traces of the funds and to enable you plan for the investment in your Country.
I have plans to invest part of the money into an investment in your Country but,if there is any other business that is better than what I have suggested, I will be very glad to follow your advice.
I hope to offer you 20% Of the total fund for your assistance to us while the balance will be invested on our behalf by you .I await your soonest response. Respectfully yours,MRS.FAVOR E KWAKUE
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