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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:
- "huge sum of money" (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: "Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi" <mrssafiafarkashgaddafi1202@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2014 03:25:18 +0300
Subject: From Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi
Greetings from Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi,
I am the wife of the late Libyan President Gaddafi who was killed by rebels
on Thursday 20th Oct 2011, please my life is in big danger and I would like
to use you as my contact to move a huge sum of money and start living a free
life in your country. I have been on veils as a Muslim since he married me,
which is our religion right, nobody has seen my face or knows me except my
children and him and I thank Allah for this.
I cannot be identified by anybody in the world now that things have gone
bad. I am taking refuge in Oman. Formally i was in Algeria but we left there
out of fear that we is not safe because the Rebels can trace to any Northern
part of Africa. I and my three children can't go back to Libya otherwise we
will be killed. We are afraid that our life could be in danger in Libya and
for reasons which i believe you know.
The death of my husband was a broad day murder by the Libyan rebels. He was
captured and killed not by stray bullet as the world was made to believe. it
was a bad experience and a difficult in time for us. I want to relocate to
your country, to start up a new life. I have some money Eleven million us
dollar ($11Million) in my possession which i will like to invest in any
profitable business in your country. I want you to guard me through the
business i will invest. I will reward you with 20% percent of the total
money.
I will furnish you with more info as soon as I read your response indicating
your interest to partner with me. At present I don't receive or make calls
for security reason (s) as it is being monitored.
All communication is based on internet. I look forward to your prompt and
positive response. Please if you are not interested, please kindly delete
and do not spread this message for the safety of my family life.
Thanks.
Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi
Sent to you using Uebimiau Webmail version 3.11
Developed by Dave and Todd at http://www.manvel.net and http://www.tdah.us
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Anti-fraud resources:
