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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Koenders Desire <0koendersdesir1474@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.desirekoenders@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 15:01:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mr Koenders Desire
>From Mr Koenders Desire
I am Mr.Koenders Desire the only
son of Late Mr. & Mrs.Désiré Dallo but am here with my sister. I
select you to assist me. My father was a cocoa merchant in Abidjan the
economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire He was poisoned to death by his
friends . But before the death , he secretly called me by his bed side
and told me that he has the sum of Four million two hundred thousand
United States Dollars USD ($4.200,000) deposited in bank .So am
currently living in senegal to get someone that will assist me. He used
my name (Koenders Desire) as the next of Kin to deposit the money. He
then strongly advised me to be careful especially with his friends and
our relatives.the money is kept in the bank with the view of making use
of it for investment purposes after my educational carrier.. For The
urgly development in this country,I have now decided to take quick
actions and have this money transferred out of this country before it is
too late.I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways
Please I need your assistance in this ways.
1. Can I completely trust you?
2. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you
after the money is transfer to your country? 3.Can you help me to come
over to your country and further my educational carrier?4.Can you asure
me of the confidentiality of this transaction till when this money get
to your Custody,this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish
on Earth.No matter what your decision may turn to be I humbly beg you to
reply to me.
Thanks and God bless you
Best regards
Mr Koenders Desire
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