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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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Fanta Diallo" <fantadiallo_1@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Fanta Diallo" <fantadiallo@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:49:35 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Mrs.Fanta Diallo
Mrs.Fanta Diallo
I Know That This Mail May Reach You By Surprise. As We Don't Know Ourselves Previously .I Is The Above Name Person. I Am Citizen Of Philippine Married To (Mr. Joseph Diallo) From Cote D'ivoire My Husband Was Kill With My Only Son On February 2010 Here In Country Because My Husband Is From The Same Village With President Laurent Gbagbo Who Was Arrested And Detained Following To His Refusal To Hand Over Power To The Recognize Winner Of The Election. My Late Husband Who Happened To Be One Of His Campaign Managers To President Laurent Gbagbo Was Killed Along With My Only Son And Our Family House Set Blazed By The Rebels.
Before His Happened, There Is This Sum Of $7.3musd (Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand U.S.Dollars) Which My Late Husband Concealed In A Trunk Box And Deposits It With A Security Company Which He Declares And Register It As Family Valuables.
Meanwhile, I Have Not Told Anybody About This Money Which I Am Telling You About It Reason That I Want You To Assist Me Use The Fund For The Work Of God. That Is Not A Problem To Me What I Want Is For You To Use It And Help The Helpless People Around You To Help The Orphanages, Widows, And Motherless Children.
The Political Situation In My Country Is Very Bad And Many People Are Been Killed On Daily Bases.
As The Result Of The Shock Which I Heard Following My Son And My Husband Death, My Doctor After Examine My In The Hospital Told Me That Now Have Heart Problem And This Why I Have Decide To Live The Country For Cure.
I Will Donating 60% To The Poor And The Disadvantaged And The Orphans And 25% I Will Use It For My Medical Treatment And 15% Will Be For Your Assistant I Also Want You To Know That This Matter Is %100 Risk Free Because I Have All The Deposit Documents With Me All I Needs Is Your Seriousness To Handle This Matter With Your Entire Mind.
So Please I Am Waiting For Your Urgent Reply So That I Will Give You All The Information About This Money.
Your Information Is Requested.
(1) Your Full Name...................
(2) Your Full Address................
(3) Your Telephone/Fax Numbers.......
Remain Blessed Always
Mrs. Fanta Diallo
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