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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "abidjan" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: JESSICA ROLAND <jessica.roland123@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: jessica.roland121@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 13:57:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: waiting to hear from you
My name is Jessica
I am 20years girl
>From Guinea
Permit me to introduce my self to you,i am Ms Jessica Roland the only daugther
of Mr and Mrs Makoni Roland,the body guard to former president of Guinea
Bissau, (Joa Vieira).My parents was killed by the Guinea Bissau soldier with
the President at the Presidential house.Before my father's sudden death he
Told me that if anything happens to him, that he deposited a trunk box that contain
USD$3.5M(three million,five hundred thausand USD) in one of the Security
Company here In Abidjan capital city of Cote d'ivoire.
since my parents are dead,am seeking for a good and honest man who can help me transfer this
trunk box to his country and who will also marry me after this transaction so i can finish my education
while he helps me invest the money in a good business.
I will come to your country after the transfer of my money because this place is
not safe for me and the new government have siezed all my father's
properties in my country but they are not aware of this deposit that my father made
outside the country which i am the beneficiary/ next of kin and the deposit certificate is here with me.
waiting for your assistance
Thanks.
Jessica Roland.
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Anti-fraud resources:
