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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- adodoasika9@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Asika Adodo" <asika569@gmail.com>
Reply-To: adodoasika9@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 17:41:26 +0100
Subject: Mss. Asika Adodo
Firstly my name is Ms. Asika Adodo, the daughter of late Dr. Thomas
Adodo .My father was a highly reputable business man who operated
internationaly
during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in
one of his business trips abroad on the November 2nd 2012
Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been
masterminded by an uncle of mine who travelled with him at that time.
But God
knows the truth My mother died when i was just 6 year 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 Five million Nine hundred thousand
united
states dollars, deposited in a bank here in Cotonou Republic of
Benin.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 the
deposited money with the bank.
I am just 22 years old i don't know what to do. now I want a honest
God fearing person who i can transfer the money to 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.
The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. I also want
to invest the money 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
fund is transfer to your care?. Please consider these and get back to
me as
soon as possible,please contact me to my private email address
adodoasika9@gmail.com
Best Regards
Mss. Asika Adodo
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Anti-fraud resources:
