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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- paulson.wisdom@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Paulson Wisdom <paulsonwisdom@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "paulson.wisdom@yahoo.com" <paulson.wisdom@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 22:14:26 +0000
Subject: From Paulson Wisdom/Appeal for your honest assistance
From Paulson Wisdom/Appeal for your honest assistance
Dearest One,
Greetings in the name of God.i am Paulson Wisdom from Sierra Leone the
only son of late Chief Engineer Wisdom, i am writing you from Rep of
Cote d'Ivoire where i Have been taking refuge after the brutal war and
Murder of my parents by the rebels during the renewed Fighting in our
country Sierra Leone.
Because of the war my late Father sold his shipping company and took
me to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited($8.5 Million
Dollars) in his foreign account with one of the bank here in Cote
d'Ivoire.Due to the agreement my late father made with the Bank this
money can only be released to me when I am 25years of age or it can be
transfered to my guardian.
Please i have prayed before contacting you with the trust in God that
you will be of help to me and coupled with the current political
situation in Cote d'Ivoire now, I am seeking for your assistance to
transfer this Money to your account for a good investment Project in
your country,
(1) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 17years.
(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further
my Education and to secure a resident permit in your country
i am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum for Your
assistance,Please Help me to get out of this terrible situation and
our Almighty God will bless you.
Please kindly contact me on this email paulson.wisdom@yahoo.com
address for more details.
God be with you
Paulson Wisdom
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