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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "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: joy willims <joywillims20092009@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 13:56:48 +0000
Subject: Dear good Friend,
Dear good Friend,
I am Madam Joy.Willims from Philippines. A widow to the late former
National Bank Director Manila Phillipines Dr.G.J.Willims who was killed
against the country by the Abu sayyaf movement in the southern luxury beach
region on the 11th April 2002 that rendered many people of different
nationals dead.
I inherited a total sum of $12 million dollars from my late husband which
which he wanted to use for investment in our Country before he dead and
this money was arranged and packaged by my late husband in a trunk box
before he deposited and registered it with a security company in
Abidjan,Ivory Coast using my name as the beneficiary.
Once you will accept to help me retrieve the trunk box from the security
company.
I would like you to send me your full names and contact address including
your direct contact telephone numbers so that I can forward it to the
security company holding this box of money with an authourization letter of
trust which I shall attach with an application in your name stating that I
have appointed you as my foreign partner who will help me in retrieving the
trunk box, also I will give you their contact information for you to
contact them and give them immediate instruction to deliver the trunk box
to your country.
As soon as you comfirm the box I and my daughter will come over to meet you
for the possible investment. My main purpose of sending you this mail is
because of my ill health I found you and perhaps trust worthy to give this
priority of delivery of box to you in a place that you think is very secure
and safe in your country with your percentage of which we shall chat on
soon.
I give thanks immensely for your co-operation as I look forward to your
urgent response .
Be blessed,
Madam Joy.Willims
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