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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:
- 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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "keep it confidential" (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: "John Vianney" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnvianney56@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2016 11:23:08 -0700
Subject: Gold for sale
Hello friend,
My name is John Vianney. I am the Assistant Commissioner, Import and Export Ghana custom excise and preventative service. I am in searching for gold dealer or who can connection me to any person that can buy or help me sell 185 kilograms of gold Dore bars. The buyer will have a good discount and the seller will be given a good percentage commission.
I impounded the four boxes containing gold bullion meant to be exported out of the country without the necessary documentations at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) two weeks ago. Fellow below link to see previous seizure we made that I account for the Ghana government. https://www.newsghana.com.gh/gold-worth-18m-seized-at-kia/
I will be very glad if you can indicate your interest to help me sell the gold in your country because the present administration of President John Mahama does not use the generated fund from gold to develop our country and for this singular reason, I decide to keep this aforementioned gold for myself and sold it. Please on your respond to this mail, kindly enclose your personal contact details. Please keep it confidential as I am still serving in the government.
Best regards,
John Vianney
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Anti-fraud resources:
