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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "await 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: Betty Laboso <ouedraogoserge67@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bettylaboso3@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:26:33 +0000
Subject: Good day.
Good day.
My name is Betty Laboso a 22 years old girl from Kenya, my mother was Late
Mrs. Lorna Laboso the former Kenyan Assistant Minister of Home and affairs
who was among the plane that crashed in the remote area of Kalong’s western
Kenya. I am constrained to contact you because of the daily maltreatment I
have been receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my
late mother's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of
my beloved mother. This maltreatment started when she secretly found out
that my late mother deposited the sum of 10.5 million Euros with a security
Company in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin.
However, she requested that I release all the necessary documents to her so
she can be able to get the fund but I refused due to the maltreatment I
receive from her and her children on a daily basis. I decided to run away
to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money and take care of myself and start a
new life. On my arrival the Security Company Director whom I met in person
told me that my mother left an instruction to the Security Company, that
the money should be released to me only when I turn 27 or I present a
foreign trustee who will help me invest the money overseas.
This is the reason why I am in search of an honest and reliable person who
will help me and stand as my foreign trustee to enable the Security Company
to release the funds to you so I can come over and join you to complete my
education in your country. It will be my great pleasure to compensate you
with 30% of the money for your help and the balance shall be my capital
with your kind idea for me to invest under your control over there in your
country. I am currently in a refugee camp here in Burkina Faso.
Please I await your urgent response.
Betty Laboso
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