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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:
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Nora Rahal" <noraraha181@ymail.com>
Reply-To: norarahal1@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:16:54 -0500
Subject: Re:Please Help Me
Hello,
My name is Miss Nora Rahal 19 years of age an Algerian but based in Ghana
where my late father was doing his oil and gold business for many years, I
am the only daughter of late Dr. David Rahal who was a great oil and gold
dealer for about 38 years, he died two years ago as a result of heart
problem. He was treated in Saudi Arabia for about 3 months and when the
illness became more serious he was flied to Dubai where he died about 3
weeks later. But when the illness was too much as if he knew that he is
not going to survive, he called me as the only daughter and his only
surviving child and told me that he deposited a Trunk Box of 13.3 million
dollars in a bank here in Ghana which I will disclose to you as we
proceed. He told me that he wanted to invest the money in Malaysia into
oil storage plant and mining. He said that he sees Malaysia as a very good
country where he can invest for many years of his life; it is very
unfortunate he died without accomplishing his dream in Malaysia. He told
me that since I am still a little young girl that I should look for a good
foreigner who will not betray me and made away with the money who will
help me have the Box of the 13.3 million dollars and invest it in Malaysia
or in any other countries where business will be benefitting. I really
needed your urgent help, take me as your daughter and help me so that I
will come to join you in your country as soon as the Box of the money is
released to you.
I have been crying to Allah why was my condition like this, before I found
your contact and I was happy so that fund will be easy and closer for you
to have the trunk box of the 13.3 million dollars. I was a Medical Student
before my father died and I stopped after he died and my mother divorced
my father and married another man where he died many years ago. Be my only
father and look at a young girl like me with a bright future. I will leave
from Ghana to come and meet you the moment you have the box of the money
released to you. I will be waiting for your urgent response so that I
will give you more details about the exact bank in Ghana where my father
deposited the trunk box of the money and I will also send to you the
deposit Document as proof. Please I needed your urgent response and I will
be happy if you will reply me as soon as possible. May Almighty Allah be
with you.
Yours Sincerely
Miss Nora Rahal.
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