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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.
- 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- mrs_andreakouame@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: andrea kouame <mrs.andreakouame@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrs_andreakouame@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:30:43 +0000
Subject: reply me
Dear Friend,
Please i wish to solicit your help.
My name is Andrea Kouame 64/ yrs of age, retired processing Engineer (RPE).
I am a widow being that I lost my husband 8/yrs ago.
I have lived in a world of uncertainty before taking this bold decission to
approach a complete stranger who will not take advantage of my naivety.
My husband was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his
death. He was assassinated by the rebels leader following the political
uprising in Cote D'Ivoire in the year 2002. Before his death he had an
outlet foreign account in a bank up to the tune of USD$9,000.000.00, Nine
Million united state dollars which he told the bank was for the importation
of cocoa processing machine.
Having known my condition, I have decided to donate this fund for charity
and humanitarian purpose with help of a God fearing person.
I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord Exodus 14 VS 14.
Reply to me at this e-mail mrs_andreakouame@yahoo.com for more details.
God bless,
Mrs:Andrea Kouame
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