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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: " Mrs. Mariam Abacha" <presidentiallawcqoffice111@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsxxmab95@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 12:57:02 +0100
Subject: Dear: Sir/Madam.
Greetings;
My name is Mrs. Mariam Sani Abacha, hereby wish to request for your urgent
assistance after going through your profile I find out that you are sharing
the same last name with late client that deposited usd39.155million packaged
consignment item in Off Shore Security Firm with secret connection during
Military Regime of my late husband, I than instruct my Clerk servant to
forward your name to the off shore security firm for the claim on my behalf
before they will DENY me the funds because I and my family are still under
restrictions of movement since after death of my husband till now.
I therefore plead to you to please, stand and receive the consignment funds
delivery from the off security management agent and 27% will be for you,
immediately you receive the delivery at your doorstep address because I
have instruct my Clerk servant to get you the consignment deposit reference
information for the claim on your name.
All I want is your total sincerity and honesty trust to please safe-keep
the rest funds for my family because I don't know when I will be set free
from where I am now which make me to chosen you with trust as you are
sharing the same last name with my late client to take delivery of the
consignment funds.
Therefore send your address and your phone number immediately to my Clerk
servant E-mail address to enable the management agent locate you for the
delivery in your place as the consignee on my behalf because the contents
inside the consignment package was declear to the off security management
as a family item just for your notice.
Mrs. Mariam Sani Abacha.
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