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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "Bacha Hommel" <biko2014@katamail.com>
Reply-To: Bachahommel@katamail.com
Date: Sun, 18 May 2014 10:45:09 -0000
Subject: From Bacha & Kenedy
>From Bacha & Kenedy
Dear One,
Good day and God bless, we are Bacha and Kenedy Hommel from Sierra Leone.
We are writing you from Rep of Cote 'Ivoire where we have been taking
refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during
the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father
sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire
where he deposited (US$8,500,000.00 (Eight million Five hundread thousand
dollars) Bank here in Abidjan- Cote d'ivoire Please, we got your profile
from this site and due to the current political situation in Cote d'ivoire
we are seeking for your assistance lift this money out from Cote d'ivoire
to your safe account in your country if you will not betray us when the
money gets into your account in your country for investment?so we can
also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to
offer you 25% of the total sum for your help. Please, Kindly contact us on
this e-mail address for more details.
Best Regards
Bacha and Kenedy
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Anti-fraud resources:
