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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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: ester <lassinadesmond1@msn.com>
Reply-To: sisteresteremile1@msn.com
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 20:46:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From.Lassana Adama Traore.
From.Lassana Adama Traore.
Dear Friend.
With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you would be of great assistance to me and my Sister.
I am Lassana Adama, the son of late Mr.Adama Traore Jr of blessed memory. Prior to my father's assassination by the rebel forces loyal to the revolutionary United Front (RUF) he was the Director General National Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation of Sierra-Leone.
Few days before my father was assassinated, he instructed me and my sister (Grace) to move out of Sierra-Leone and also to go in his underground strong room where the documents of money he has deposited in a security company in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire in one trunk box as family valuables and treasures with my name as the beneficiary. The amount is US$ 6.5 (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Of America Dollars).
We managed to escape to Abidjan the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire through the help of my father's friend who is a trailer driver. As our travelling document was seized. We are now looking for a trustworthy and God fearing person who will handle this money for rapid profit for the future of me and my sister Grace.
For your information, the security company did not know the real content of the box and we do not wish them to know until the money is transferred to your account. As it was deposited as family valuables and treasures. Meanwhile, we want to leave Cote D'Ivoire entirely for investment of this money in your country and mostly for our future. We want you to please assist us to claim the consignment out from the security compay and to deposit the money in your account. As our foreign partner.
We have it in mind to reward you with a certain percentage for your assistance. As soon as we hear from you. please my sister Grace is sick and hospitalised so I spend most time with her at the hospital.
Finally please ensure that no one else knows about this money as it is only I and yourself knows about this money. May God protect and guide you as you assist us.
Yours sincerely,
Lassana Adama Traore.
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