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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "huge sum of money" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Pascal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pmufai03@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:15:36 -0000
Subject: From Pascal
Dear,
My name is Pascal Mufai, I was the personal aid to the former president of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo before his capture.
While in office, he asked me to keep a certain box containing huge sum of money for him in his village at a certain place he described to me but I cornered the box to another location unknown to him.
I successfully deposited it in a security company abroad. I will like you to help me claim this box and deposit the money in your account for any business you may suggest is lucrative for our mutual benefits.
Please let me know the percentage you will take from this money for helping me recover it.
You can see details from this info
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14477842 I am waiting to hear from you so that I will detail you fully, I am presently in a hiding place now.
Thank you.
Pascal
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Anti-fraud resources:
