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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- abc200gh@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Williams Osei <wilenterprises013gh@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <richardaustin10@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:35:39 +0000
Subject: PLEASE REPLY ME
Dear sir,
I wish to introduce myself as Williams Osei it is my desire to contact you for
assistance and counseling. Before the death of my father we have traveled once to the
United States for two weeks’ vacation and since then I have dreamed to live in America and
become American citizen if God permit my heart desire but the death of my father have
messed my dream up. And I believe you are a reputable and responsible and trustworthy
person that can help my situations. I was searching through American business and
counseling directories I saw your information I pray for God directions and God led me to
pick your contact information among the millions of contacts in that pages. Please do not
turn down my request to be my guidance and counselor. My dad left me with some money to
finish my university education and start up life but now my dad siblings are threatening my
life if I don't provide all the necessary papers. The person my dad planned together to use
the money to help me finish my education and start life is also dead, please I want you to
come to my rescue by intervening as the person my father instructed to help with the money
for my university education. If you accept to be my counselor I will release all the
documents to contact the institution where the money was deposited and tell them that
before my dad untimely death he instructed you to use the money to fly me to the United
States to finish my education. I am concerned that if I don't get a reliable guidance and
counselor to intervene on my behalf I stand to lose the money and my life. Please help my
situation and God will surely reward you to finish the process in the Jesus name amen. I
really have confident that the God almighty who led me to contact you will not forsake me
nor let my dad siblings to destroy me because of money. I will be very glad to your kind
positive reply. Please while replying me kindly send a copy to my second email:
abc200gh@yahoo.com
God bless you.
Williams Osei
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