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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- samuelasanteboateng76@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Samuel Asante" <samuelasanteboateng76@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:06:01 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Dear Friend,
I¡¯m Mr. Samuel Asante Boateng from republic of Ghana. I¡¯m son of late
Daasre Boateng who died last year he had his own gold mining and always he was
a gold dealer before he met his death last year. I¡¯m presently residing in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2014/January-30th/kwahumanhene-is-dead.php
I wish to bring to your notice an intention of mine to go into gold business
as this was necessitated by my father¡¯s death. It may please you to know
that I have 150kg of solid gold to be sold, this is to enable me purchase the
required tools for the work at our gold mining site at Ghana and Liberia.
Dear friend, I will like you to assist me in these ways;
1) To buy or look for buyer for this 150kg solid gold.
2) To see if you can join me in this gold mining business.
3) I wish you to come and see the mining site yourself.
4) You will assist me source for the tools required.
I wish to let you know that I will contact an expert in gold business to
handle this business with you if you indicate your interest. The 150kg solid
gold is well secured in a security firm here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Every assistance made to the success of this transaction will be highly
appreciated.
Best regards,
Samuel Asante
Email: samuelasanteboateng76@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
