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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Raphael Kamara <kamara.raf1@cantv.net>
Reply-To: kamara.raf@cantv.net
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 04:31:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello My Dear
Hello My Dear
Good day to you. It is our pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my sister intend to establish in your country. I am Raphael Kamara and my sister Juliet. Although we have not met with you before but I believe, you will regard us as your friend and treat this message urgently.
We are writing you in absolute confidence to seek your assistance to transfer the sum of Fifteen million, United State Dollars USD ($15,000,000.00) which our late father deposited in a bank here in Ivory Coast. He wanted to used this money for his political reason in our Country before he was assassinated on his out Political campaign with our mother.
Now I and my sister have decided to invest these money in a country were there is no political problem because we don't want to experience what we have past through in the past again. We want to transfer these funds for investment in your country.
We are ready to offer you 20% of the total amount to you if you can help us transfer this money in your country and another 10% as annual interest to you for securing the money for us .
We are honorable seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred. (2) To serve as a guardian. (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country.
I await your soonest response for more details.
Best Regard
Raphael and Juliet
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Anti-fraud resources:
