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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: vincent zango <vincent_zango1@live.ca>
Reply-To: vincent.zango2001@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 12:35:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM MR VINCENT ZANGO.
FROM MR VINCENT ZANGO. AUDITS & ACCOUNTS DEPTAFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (A.D.B) Ouagaduoguo Burkina Faso.Private Phone Number+226 78.79.17.49 Attention: Please I am Mr vincent zango. the manager Audit & Accounts dept. in the african developmnet bank Burkina Faso (ADB). I am writing to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $15.500.000.00 (Fifteen million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum belongs to our deceased customer late Mr andreas schranner from Germany who died along with his entire family in the Benin plane crash 2003 and since then the fund has been in a suspense account. After my further investigation, I discovered that Mr andreas schranner died with his next of kin and according to the laws and constitution guiding this banking institution stated that
after the expiration of (8) eight years, if no body or person comes for the claim as the next of kin, the fund will be channel into national treasury as unclaimed fund. Because of the static of this transaction I want you to stand as the next of kin so that our bank will accord you the recognition and have the fund transfer to your account. The total sum will be shared as follows: 60% for me, 40% for you and expenses incidental occur during the transfer will be incur by both of us. The transfer is risk free on both sides hence you are going to follow my instruction till the fund transfer to your account. More details information with the text of application form will be forwarded to you to breakdown explaining comprehensively what require of you. Your Full Name.............................Your Sex..................................Your Age..................Your Country.................Passport / driving license............. Marital
Status...................Your Occupation................... Your Personal Mobile Number................Your Personal Fax Number..................... ThanksMr vincent zango. +226 78.79.17.49
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