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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sabina Toure <sabina_toure01@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: sabina_toure01@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:01:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hi
Chosen Partner,
I know you must be highly surprise to receive this proposal from complete stranger you have never met before and also I know it will not be easy trusting one another this time around because of what is going on in the world today but I hope for the will of God to take place. I need you as my appointed partner for investment to enable me relocate in your area for living and investment. I will also continue my education to actualise my dreams.
God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly and you would never regret this, note that this is legitimate business because the money in question belongs to my late father and I am the next of kin.
I want to invest in good investment in your country which you know better and the money involved is $7.5million dollars which my late father deposited in a Bank before is untimely death by close business associates and friends, I have never done business or investment before and want you to be my sponsor, partner and fund manager once being transferred. I will give you more information.
Can we discuss on it and I need your private/direct mobile or phone line for us to discuss in details. Any other things to know feel free to write me direct on my private box.
I expect your mail
Regards
Sabina Toure
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Anti-fraud resources:
