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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: sbaa mould3 <sbaamould3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sbaamouloudo@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 May 2014 21:01:39 +0000
Subject: From Miss:Sbaa Mouloud
Can i completely trust you,
Dear?
I am Miss.Sbaa Mouloud Namibia , the only daughter of my late parents
Mr.Mouloud .My father was a highly reputable business magnate who
operated internationaly during his days. It is sad to say that he
passed away my steriously in one of his business trips abroad on the
November 2nd 20012.
Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been
master minded by an uncle of mine who travelled with him at that time.
But God knows the truth! My mother died when i was just 10yrs old, and
since then my father took me so special.
Before the death of my father on November 2nd 2012. he called me and
informed me that he has the sum of Three million united states
dollars.USD($3.000,000.00)left in bank of Africa here in Cote
d'Ivoire.He further told me that he deposited the money in my name and
also gave me all the necessary information and the legal documents
regarding to this deposit with the bank of Africa.
I am just 21 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't
know what to do. now I want a honest God fearing partner overseas who
i can transfer this deposit with his assistance and after the
transaction I will come and reside permanently in your country till
such a time that it will be convenient for me to return back home if i
so desire. This is because i have suffered a lot of set backs as a
result of incessant political crisis here in Cote d'ivoire.
The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. I also want
to invest the fund under your care because i am ignorant of business
world. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this
regards. Your suggestion and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit
me to ask these few questions:
1. Can i completely trust you?
2. What percentage of the total amount will be good for you after the
deposit is delivered to your care?.
Please consider these and get back to me as soon as possible.
Yours Sincerely
Miss:Sbaa Mouloud
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