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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)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lome togo" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "KOFFI APO(DR)" <mrkoffia5@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:50:57 -1200
Subject: Get back to me urgently
4 Ecowas Road
Lome Togo
+228 93627 519
16th August 2022
Dear sir
I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise hence we do not
know each other before communicating you with this piece of
information. I am a Financial controller expert and a Business Broker
to a deceased Immigrant property Magnate. I hope that you will not
expose or betray this trust and confidence that I am about to repose
to you for the mutual benefit of both of us.
I have an important message to you concerning the death of a
relative/business guru, and his fund valued at US$5 million he
left behind in a Security/Finance house here in my country(Togo),and all
the related transfer documents regards the fund are with me so i will
like you to contact me so that we can pull out the fund for our
personal use hence the Deceased has no relative left behind to claim
the fund
just ring or email me immediately you are in receipt of this
mail.Note,this transaction is 100% risk free so you have nothing to
worry about
Regards
Koffi Apo
+228 93627 519
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Anti-fraud resources:
