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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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Sabrina Kofi <sabrinakofi277@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:20:06 -0800
Subject: SOS
Dear Brother,
I know you are from Asia this is why i am requesting for your kind
assistance in this transfer.
I am Mrs Miriam Khalid Kim wife of Engineer Taechul Kim a vietnamese
Korean Citizen who was a crude oil dealer and business partner to the late
president of Libya Rtd Col Mamman Gadaffi.
We were married for many years but unfortunately we do not born any child
and i am cancer patient.
My husband was killed with the late President during the war in Liberia and
i quickly have to fly to Ghana Republic for my health treatment and also to
secure a consignment of us$25m which my late husband deposited in one of
the finance security companies.
The doctor recently told me that i may not survive this cancer there i am
looking for a reliable person in Asia whom i will introduce to the deposit
company as my late husband family relation so that you successfully receive
the box as our next of kin.
I will like you to invest 60% of this money to the charity homes in Asia
and middle east while you take 40% for your assistance in receiving the box
on behalf of my late husband family.
I am contacting you because i tried to contact directly the members of my
late husband but his address is not valid any more that is why i am contact
you since you are from Asia .
Kindly send me your telephone number and full contact address if you are
interested to help me receive this money so that i ask the lawyer to use it
for the change of ownership.
Hope you remain honest in this assistance.
Regards,
Miriam
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Anti-fraud resources:
