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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:
- ",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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Fatou Komar <fatou.komar@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Fatou Komar <fatou-komar@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2017 19:41:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Good day my dearest
Good day my dearest,
My name is Miss Fatou Komar. I am 22 years old and the only daughter of my late parents (Late Mr. and Mrs Mustafa Komar). We are a native of Bonikro, Northern part of Cote d'Ivoire. I was born and brought up here in Bonikro Cote d'Ivoire. My deceased father was the major Auto Mobile dealers in Cote d'Ivoire before he was posioned to death by my wicked uncle. My mother died after giving birth to me due to over blood flow out
of her body and poor medical experts during those days. I have been facing alot of difficulties and humiliations from my late father's relatives. Now I have decided to move into your country where i will spend the rest of my life and have a peaceful mind.
Please I am seriously in need of your help to secure my inheritance value the sum of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,500,000.00 DOLLARS) which my late father deposited in a prime bank here in Cote d'Ivoire before he died. I want you to assist me transfer the money to your account and accept me as part of your family. You are not going to face any difficulties or legal implications as my late father's banker has agreed to assist me handle the transaction with their bank where my late father deposited the money.
Meanwhile, i am willing to offer you 25% of the money as soon as the bank transfer the money to your account. The 25% offer is your compensation from my heart for your
assistance to transfer the money to your account and accept me as part of your family.
Please help me, I want to spend the rest of my life in your country.
Waiting for your urgent response.
Yours Sincerely
Miss Fatou Komar
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