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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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Bettina Kalou <bettinakalouz@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: bettinakalouh@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 05:10:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM MRS BETTINA KALOU
Why I Contacted you.
Hello dear respected,
Complement of the season. I am Mrs.Bettina kalou an aging widow suffering from long time sickness (NECK CANCER). I am from Mali but live here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. It is with the assistance of my 15years only son Ibrahim, that I am able to write you this mail as I deemed it necessary to disclose this secret of mine to you if you may be of any assistance.
I inherited the sum of US$6.5 Million from my late husband. This fund was deposited in a suspense fixed account with a clause attached to it (For onward transfer into a foreign account). This clause has made it impossible for me to have access to this fund. So the bank manager advised me to look for foreigner partner that can be trusted so that he/she can assist me receive this money in his/her account. It is for this reason that I contacted you to seek your assistance to receive this fund in your account in your country so that you can use it as I directed below. I summoned up courage to contact you being that I found you as a person that can be honest, trusted and God fearing.
This is how I would want you to use this fund.
1. You will be required to use 40% of this fund for the well-being of the poor in your country or elsewhere in the world. (2). 40% for Ibrahim which you will help him invest in a good business in your country and assist him come over to your country to further his education. (3). 15% for you as your reward fund for being Ibrahim's guardian and for managing this fund. Extra 5% will be given to you too for replacement of any expenses which you may incur in seeing to the success of this fund transfer to your account.
Reply immediately for more details and directives. Any delays in your replying me earlier will give me room to look for another person.
Thanks From your beloved sister,
Mrs.Bettina Kalou and son Ibrahim
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