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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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Fatma Ali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fatma9ali@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:43:18 -0800
Subject: Re:Assalamualaikum QUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP
Dear:friend
I am writing you in respect of my late father's business intention abroad. I do hope that my decision to contact you will be of great benefit to the both of us, considering the fact that we have not known each other before. Am Fatma Ali a citizen of Libya, right now am in a Refugee Camp .
My late Father who was the former Chairman MR.Mubarak.ALI's Gold Mines (LTD) was killed by the political rebels along side with my Mother and now am the only survival of my family.My late Father Mr.Mubarak.Ali kept $12 Million USD in a TRUNK BOX and 115kg Gold which he deposited with a Security company in Ghana and these funds were deposited as precious items for family foreign investment and didn't disclose the real content to the security company for safety reasons .
Now the security company wants me to present my nominated foreign beneficiary, as it was stipulated in the depositing certificate to a be claim by his foreign beneficiary abroad.Please Sir, i want you to be my nominated foreign beneficiary to help me receive my inheritance and assist me in investing in a profitable business there in your country abroad and i will come over to start a new life and further my education, am really suffering here and i can not
leave Africa without my inheritance because these is my only hope in life.
All the legal documents as regards the deposit of this inheritance in the security company are now in the custody of our family Barrister here in Ghana, please i need your help as this is urgent and very confidential because it's my last hope in life. For your foreign assistance I'll be ready to compensate you with a negotiable percentage of this sum and also send me your mobile number.
Awaits your respond as soon as possible and you can call me through the Patron number to the Refugee Camp for mutual communication
Best Regard
Fatma Ali
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