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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)
- 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.
- suleiman_zerbo1@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Suleiman Zerbo <sulezerbo3@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2015 18:16:52 +0200
Subject: MR Suleiman Zerbo
CREDIT BANK BENIN
OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO
DEAR FRIEND,
THIS MESSAGE MIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SURPRISE HOWEVER,IT'S JUST MY URGENT
NEED FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION.I
AM A BANKER BY PROFESSION FROM OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO HERE IN WEST
AFRICA AND CURRENTLY HOLDING THE POST OF FOREIGN REMMITTANCE MANAGER IN OUR
BANK BURKINA FASO OFFICE .
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS $5.6 MILLION OF
ONE OF MY BANK DECEASED CLIENT WHO DIED IN THE SHARTER PLANE WHICH CRASHED
ON MOUNT KENYAN IN THE KENYAN CITY OF SUMBURU ON 21ST JULY,2003 TO ANY
FOREIGN ACCOUNT .
HENCE,I AM INVITING YOU FOR A BUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHARED
BETWEEN US IN THE RATIO 60/40 IF YOU AGREE TO MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
EAGERLY WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
suleiman_zerbo1@hotmail.com
MR Suleiman Zerbo
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Anti-fraud resources:
