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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: alison williams <alison456williams@cantv.net>
Reply-To: alison45williams@cantv.net
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 15:06:38 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I wish to invest in your country!!!.
I wish to invest in your country.
I am contacting you to assist me in something I could not accomplish all alone, my name is Alison Williams my father name is MR.EDWARD Williams we are from ABIDJAN my father was killed in the recent presidential political war in ABIDJAN. There is something I need you to know and to assist me.
My father MR.EDWARD Williams deposited the sum of (10.5 million dollars) with a Security Company in the United Kingdom and I am the next of kin. Since the death of my father MR.EDWARD Williams I have been contacting the security company on how to clam the consignment from there custody.
Few days back the director of the Security Company in United Kingdom wrote to me that due to age limit I will have to present an adult/trustee for the clam of my consignment on my behalf,as confidential as it is due to my late father MR.EDWARD Williams.
Who he was before he was killed, I then decide to look for a trustee outside my country to help me I am only 19 years old I will give you more details when you respond to this mail I will give you the documents and tell you the name and address of the security company to proceed.
Thanks I wait to hear from you soonest for more details.
Mr Alison Williams
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