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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "msissouma@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mariam Sissouma <marisissouma@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 10:13:21 +0000
Subject: Please I need your urgent assistance
I am Mariam Souleymane .The only child of late Mr. & Mrs. Souleymane
Sisssouma. My father was a business merchant who dealt on Cocoa, Gold and
Diamond but unfortunately he died in this recent war out-breaks in Cote
D’Ivoire. He was a victim of the rebel's attack in his office. Before his
final breath in the hospital, he disclosed to me in confidence of the sum
of $3.5Million (Three million five hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) he
deposited in a finance security company.
Presently, this fund is in the custody of the finance security company I am
contacting you to assist me retrieve it on my behalf while I come over to
be with you in your country and continue my education while you invest the
fund properly in your country in any business of your choice.
For your sincere efforts in helping me to safe-keep the fund till when I
will come over to your country to meet with you, I have decided to give you
20%. of the total sum. You will also benefit in any investment established
with my own part.
As soon as I receive your reply I will give you further information vital
for this transaction such as the contact of the finance company. Any delay
in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same
purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.
Hoping to receive your reply. Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours faithfully,
Mariam Souleymane
Please Kindly Get Back To Me Through My Private E-mail Address (
msissouma@ymail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
