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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- ruth00001hamson@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ruth hamson <ruth00001hamson@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 22:52:59 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearest One,
Dearest One,
Please we are contacting you in order to let you know our desires to invest our money with you in your country. I’m 22 years old with my younger brother who is 16 years old. We lost our parents here in Cote d’Ivoire . We have inheritance money from our late parents our late parents were very wealthy farmers on Cocoa and Banana merchant when they were alive. After the death of our late father long years ago then our late mother was controlling his business until she was poisoned by her business associates which she suffered and died.
Before the death of our late mother on May 20th 2009, in a private hospital here in Cote d’Ivoire where she was admitted. She secretly called us on her bed side and disclosed to us that she has the sum of ($7.5 m) she left in Bank in one of the local Bank here in Africa , that it was the money she intended to transfer for investment before her sudden death. She also instructed us that we should seek for a foreign partner in any country of our choice who will assist us transfer the box money into good account where the money will be save and invested wisely. That is why I and my younger brother decided to contact you to assist us transfer the box money to your Country where it will be save for investment. We therefore like you to help us in these areas...
1. To provide a safe bank account where the money will be transferred into for investment and to help us look for a very good lucrative business in your country where we can invest the money.
2. To serve as a guardian to this money since I’m only 22 years old and my brother is still young to handle this kind of transaction.
3. To make arrangement for me and my young brother to come over to your Country to further our education and to secure a resident permit for us in your Country.
We have decided to offer you 15% of the total amount for your willingness and interested to assist us, invest the money in your country without any delay. Please kindly response to us after reading our proposal for more clarification through our email address. Please immediately you receive this message; try your possible best to send us your full personal information with mobile telephone number for further discussion about the box monet in the security company.
Thanks and remain blessed in the lord
Regards,
Miss. Ruth Hamson.
Email/ruth00001hamson@yahoo.co.jp
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