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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Amelia Beneson." <ak257237896@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: amelia_beneson@terra.com
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:15:52 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Thanks so much for your understanding.
Ms. Amelia Beneson
Ilot 47A rue de Jubilé
Williamsville
Abidjan.
In order to escape alive
from our country Liberia
because of the then prevailing crisis and civil war, my father relocated his
remaining assets outside the country after the destruction of everything we
had.
My name is Ms. Amelia
Beneson from Liberia daughter
of late Mr. & Mrs. Michelle Beneson and i am now alone in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Weakened by the tragic
death of my father here in Cote d’Ivore in
2011, i do not get any assistance because of the political situation and many
years of civil war there.
But before his death, he
told me about the sum of Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Euros (€3,800,000.00)
which he deposited in a Security Company here and declared as family valuables
but my wish is to move it out for my security reasons based on his advice just
before he died.
I want you to help me
claim and retrieve this fund from the Security Company and transfer it into
your personal account in your country for investment purposes in your country.
I would also rely on you
to decide the best investment projects once the money safely in your care.
Thank you and i wait your
reply.
Ms. Amelia Beneson.
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