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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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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 <ouedraogom187@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bettylaboso@mail.com
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2023 14:11:35 +0100
Subject: BL:
BL:
Good day,
Peace be unto you and your family. My name is Betty Laboso a 19 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. My step mother has been mistreating me and she also planned to take
away all my late mother's treasury and properties from me since the
unexpected death of my mother. This maltreatment started when she found out
that my late mother deposited the sum of 10.5 million Dollars with a
security Company in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin, then she
requested that I give her all the necessary documents 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 informed me
that my mother left an instruction to the Security Company, that the money
should be released to me only when I turn 28 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 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 20% 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.
Thanks
Yours Sincerely
Betty Laboso
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