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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.
- 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 us 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)
- "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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- 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.
- ecobankbf@pisem.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Bianca" <mschiang@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: ecobankbf@pisem.net
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 03:45:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello Friend,
Hello Friend,
(Greeting's to you and your entire family)
Let me start by introducing my self my names are Ms Blake Bianca from (Ottawa Canada) but i based in Burkina Faso West Africa as a business woman dealing on gold exportation. I have been suffering from ovarian cancer disease for some years now and the doctor says that i have just few days to live, Now that am about ending the race without any family members.
I have $3 Million US DOLLARS in Africa Development Bank (ADB) Burkina Faso wish i instructed the bank to transfer the money to St Andrews Missionary Home in Burkina Faso yet my mind is not at rest because i also have $4.5 Million US Dollars at ECOBANK here in Burkina Faso wish i have also instructed the bank to transfer the money to you as soon as you apply for the fund when i have gone.
Here in my sick bed the illness is increasing seriously day by day and my eyes are filled with tears, since the doctor stated that
i will give up anytime from now so i don know if i will be there tomorrow then i wrote this letter with the help of a nurse here at the hospital.
I want you to take 50% of the $4.5 million Dollars in ECOBANK and give 50% to Orphanages in your country in order for my soul to rest in peace. You are to contact the bank through this email address (ecobankbf@pisem.net) immediately you receive this message. I wish you good luck and God protection.
Remain Bless,
Ms Blake Bianca
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