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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Kojo Thomson <kothomson6212@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 May 2014 02:09:50 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT
I am the Director of Mines at the Ghana Ministry of Mines and Natural
Resources. My office recovered 2 trunk boxes which was scanned to contain
alluvial gold dust and $5,200,000,00, inside one of the box with your email
details affixed to both boxes.
I want you to confirm to me if you would want me to ensure the product is
refined before delivery to you or you would want the boxes delivered to you
straightway.Kindly get back to me and also ensure that you forward your
address to me.
Best regards
Kojo Thomson
Executive Director,Mines
Ministry of Mines and Nat. Resources
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Anti-fraud resources:
