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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Michea Wuse." <michea.wuse@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:52:01 +0100
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP
I am Micheal Wuse i just arrived from Haiti yesterday because of the recent
Earthquake that occurred in my country, with the sum of 15 million USA
dollar in my custody with Three Trunk consignment boxes that my late father
left for me and i have lost my mother because of her illness and some of our
family members are trying to Eliminate me because i am the first son of my
father and i had that Ghana is a very good country which i have to escape to
presently.
Mean-While after taking the funds in my possession i decided to take through
the root of Lome-Togo Border, Because of Security purpose and along the line
i was caught in the Border post between Lome and Aflao Border By the Custom
Excise And Preventive Services ( CEPS)So along the line they decided to
scan the boxes and know what is inside they found out that it,s Clean and
Spendable CASH and i started begging them and i told them that it belongs
to my foreign beneficiary at the oversea and they said that before this
Boxes can be Released to me i Need a Certificate Known As Anti-Drug And Anti
Terrorist Certificate and Money Laundry Certificate to enable me move
immediately with my consignment,so along the line i am Stranded and during
my Search for a beneficiary i came across your email and your name in Ghana
that you are a very nice and God Fearing somebody hence this is why i am
contacting you right now to be my beneficiary and i will want you to keep it
very secretively until everything is done amicably and after everything i
will offer you the sum of %50 of the total money if you are able to assist
me why i will be entitled to %50.
Sir/Madam so i am looking for a Reliable Beneficiary who can help me out
immediately in respect of this issue on ground so that i will proceed
immediately.
Thank you and god bless you for your understanding.
Mr.Micheal Wuse.
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