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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:
- "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)
- "contact me immediately" (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 Salfy Bukary <misssalfybukary@ibibo.com>
Reply-To: <miss.salfybukary@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:07:33 -1200
Subject: From Miss Salfy Bukary
--
Hello Dear,
I am Miss Salfy Bukary, the daughter of late Chief and Mrs Bukary, I
wish
to request for your assistance in a financial transaction. And I wish
to
invest in Manufacturing and real estate management in your country or
possible any good lucrative business you know much better than me.
I have (USD$4.5million) to invest in your country, and I will require
your
assistance in helping me stand as my late father's foreign business
partner
who he deposited the consignment on his/her behalf into the security
company, the consignment was deposited in Africa and was later moved to
Europe where the consignment is now under the care of the security
company.
Please it is very important you contact me immediately for further
explanation on the whole entire work plan.
I wait for your immediate response.
Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards
Miss Salfy Bukary
miss.salfybukary@yahoo.cn
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Anti-fraud resources:
