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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 american 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 orphan scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- alicebismack@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: alice bismack <alicebismack@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:22:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT NEEDED PLEASE
DEAREST,
I AM MISS ALICE BISMARCK FROM GHANA AND I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY DEAD FATHER LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED.THIS MONEY IS AMOUNT OF $15.500.000 MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS INSIDE TRUNK METAL BOX AND THE MONEY IS IN SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA.
MY FATHER WAS A VERY RICH COCOA & MINES FARMER AND HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS COLLEAGUES AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY GUARDIAN AND APPOINTED BENEFICIARY AND HELP ME RECEIVE THE METAL TRUNK BOX CONTAIN MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY SINCE I AM ONLY 19YEARS AND WITHOUT PARENTS.
PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL : alicebismack@yahoo.com SO THAT I WILL TELL YOU ALL THE INFORMATION SO THAT THIS METAL TRUNK BOX MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY SO THAT YOU WILL GET ME THE TRAVELING DOCUMENT TO TRAVELING TO YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE A NEW LIFE AND MY EDUCATION THERE.
I THANKS YOU AND I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY PLEASE.
YOURS
ALICE BISMARCK
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