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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss iye <lmetalinvest@gmail.com>
Reply-To: miss.iyethoronka1@aol.com
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2023 02:08:31 -0700
Subject: Do well to respond Dear
--
Hello
Compliment of the day. My name is Miss. Iye Thoronka.
I am an Orphan and am from Sierra leone but presently I am residing in
Turkey Istanbul.
I got your contact email on the LinkedIn while searching for a trusted
person I can confide in.
I am seeking your kind assistance to stand as my foreign trustee and
retrieve my inheritance i got from my late parents.
Before my fathers death he deposited a huge amount of money in one of
the Leading Security Vault Company in (ISTANBUL TURKEY) with my name
as the Next of Kin,
but with an agreement with the Security Vault Company that the fund
should not be release to me direct,
unless I present a foreign trustee who will further my education and
help me invest the funds.
I am soliciting for your kind assistance to stand as my foreign trustee.
Kindly reply to this email only if you are really willing to assist me
with all your heart, so that I can give you more details.
NOTE: I also would like us to have a video conversation via whatsapp
or Skype only if you are willing to assist me as my foreign trustee,
until then I am waiting urgently for your kind response as I hope to
rely on you thanks.
Sincerely,
Miss. Iye Thoronka.
Hello
Can i talk to you? I have something of great value and very importance
to discuss.
Sincerely,
Miss. Iye Thoronka.
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Anti-fraud resources:
