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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: ibrahim aliu <ibrahimaliu788@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2015 11:07:17 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FORM THE DESK OF Mr Ibrahim Aliu
 Dear Friend I am Mr Ibrahim Aliu a banker from one of the international bank here
in my country. Although I know that it is very hard to trust or believe people nowadays but I have developed my trust in you before deciding to share this confidential business proposal.
Four years ago, most of the African politicians used our bank to launder funds to overseas through the help of their political advisers and I find out what was going because these days some of the funds where stock for politicians. I was able to divert ($15.2 Million United States dollars) to an escrow account that belong to unknown person.
So I will want you to act as the depositor of the fund because the bank do not know the owner of the fund and also the claim is legal as I have make all the good arrangement to transfer the fund to foreign account if only you are ready and wiling to work with me. I will tell you the details and procedures on how the transfer will be executed
immediately I hear from you. Yours sincerely, Mr Ibrahim Aliu
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Anti-fraud resources:
