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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:
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Ojiofor Emensy Esq." <barristerojiofor@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barristerojiofor1@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 00:10:11 -0800
Subject: DEAR I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE
Dear Sir/Madam,
I'm sorry to have contacted you unawares.I have a young
innocent girl that I want you to take care of in your
Country and put her in a good school for her to have a
better life. She is from Sudan where they have a Civil war
but she is a refugee now in Ghana for the safety of her
life.She has enough funds to take care of her education
and a better life in your place.
The killings there(Sudan) by the rebel Soldiers are so
much that many innocent children have lost their
parents.Her parents were targeted by the rebels and killed
for being part of the interim Government in Sudan leaving
her with an inheritance of $8.600.000(Eight million & six
hundred thousand US dollars) and also 86 kilos of gold
which he kept somewhere else.
You would be entitled to 30% of this funds if you adopt
this young girl and help her settle down in your place as
your child and help her get a good education. You will use
her 70% to enroll her in a good school and you can invest
the money for her.
This is my humble request to help this little girl to
secure her future again and you should know that this is
not all about making profit but just for you to show your
kindness towards this girl, I believe strongly that you
can be of help due to your philanthropic nature.
I will be waiting to hear from you,so we can proceed to
the next level which is the adoption process before you
can suggest on possible means to get the fund transferred
into your designated Bank account and the gold.
Best regards
Barrister Ojiofor Emensy Esq.
Ojiofor & Associates
No:52 Castle Road, Osu
Accra - Ghana.
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