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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
- "your country for safe keeping" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Alima Tureh <turehfamily2010@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Alima Tureh <family_tureh2012@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:15:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Miss Alima Tureh
>From Miss Alima Tureh
Dearest one ,
I
know that this letter will come to you as a surprise, with the full
hope that you will bear with us to assist me in this mutual transaction
that will extend our both families.
I got your contact
from the Cote d' Ivoire directory. I am miss Alima Tureh from Abidjan in
Republique of Cote d Ivoire. my late Parents Chief Dr and Lolo Ahmed
tureh, who was into cocoa/Cotton export, died last year after a brief
accident. before the death of my father he deposited two big trunk boxes
containing us$ 22.4 million with other family valuables with security
company here in Cote d'Ivoire registered it as art work belonging to his
foreign partner who will be coming for the release and export to
abroad.
Please, I want you to focus your mind in this
transaction for this is
risk free , legal an Genuine business. I and my junior brother ask for
your assistance and permission to submit your name as my late father
foreign partner for release of this consignment and transfer/export to
your country for safe keeping and investment. I humbly ask for you to
response to this email immediately with your Tel/Fax numbers to enable
me forward to you all the neccessary documents concerning this deposit.
So
as to conclude this transaction under 15 good working days. My Junior
brother and I have conclude to give you 10 % of the total money after
the release of this consignment for your noble assistance. and note that
this is the only hope of my brother and me therefore try to keep it
confidential for the security of this money and our dear life.
Waiting for your urgent response.
Best regards.
I am Miss Alima
tureh
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