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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:
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Paola Will <jntc_cl@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Ms Paola Will <mspaolawills@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 23:45:18 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re : Respond
Â
Dear,
Â
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture
which I intend to establish in your country. Though I have not met with you
before but I believe one has to risk confidence to succeed sometimes in life.
My name is Miss Paola Will I am an adopted child of late Mr. Jerry Will a coca
merchant dealer, who is now dead.
Â
There is this huge amount of Ten Million Five Hundred
Thousands U.S dollars ($10.500.000.00) which my late father deposited in a local
Bank here in Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire before his death and I did not want the
family of my father to know about it, He told me that this money is to build a
hospital for me as soon as I finished my education because his plan is for me
to be a doctor, this money is just lying in the Bank here without any use.
Â
Now, I have decided to invest this money in your country or
anywhere safe enough outside Africa for
security and political reasons. I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result
of incessant political crisis here in Cote d’ Ivoire. The death of my
father actually brought sorrow to my life. I am in a sincere desire of your
humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly
regarded. If you assist me I will be pleased to offer to you 20% of the total
fund. I await your soonest response.
Â
Respectfully yours,
Miss.Paola Will
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Anti-fraud resources:
