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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: tanoh eliz <tanoheliz2@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2016 06:27:31 +0000
Subject: Good Day To You
Dear SirGood Day To You,
I need your urgent assistance if you can.
I am Madam Elizabeth Tanoh, I am a widow being that I lost my husband who was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board of our country Ivory coast until his death. He was assassinated by unknown men in 2011 .
Before his death he made a deposit of three Million five Hundred Thousand united state Dollars ($3,500,000.00)with a bank in Abroad as he intended to relocate me and our only son to UK and to buy a Cocoa processing Machine of his own.as my husband is no longer alive to fulfill his plans,I want you to help me to see that the bank transfer the fund into your account as my late husband foreign business partner so that We will use the fund for joint investment in your country.
I will agree that you take 20% of the total sum for taken care of the fund transfer to your bank account. I have plans to do investment like real estate and industrial production or any business of your choice in your country. This is my reason for writing to you. Please if you can be of an assistance to me and my only son ,I will like you to indicate your interest by replying back urgently with your full contacts information.
Thanks and best regards .
Madam Elizabeth Tanoh
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