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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Ms Nina Johnson <behappy1960@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: ninajohn200@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:27:55 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Dearest One,
Dearest One,
Good day to you, I hope my mail meets you in good health. Please do not be surprise to receive this letter. I am coming to you in good faith with believe that you will not let me down in this unpleasant situation. I will be thankful to you if you could understand my plight and touch your heart to help me out.
I am Miss Nina Johnson the only child of Late Chief & Mrs Johnson Nado of Cote d'Ivoire. My father was a wealthy businessman who deals on Cocoa and Diamond. My father was killed last year november
The enemy who killed my father was not discovered till now and it makes me to be afraid because I might be the next target by the enemy. I am the only child, my mother died two years after my birth and my father did not marry another wife. My immediate uncle has made live difficult for me since the death of my father because he wants to claim my late father properties which rightfully belong to me as the only child. It is my belief that my wicked uncle has hand in the death of my father because of his greedy attitude over my father's wealth.
I am contacting you because of the sum of US$8.9M (Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which my late father deposited in a bank here in my country with my name as the next of kin. The wicked uncle did not know anything about the money that is why i ran out from the family so that I can contact you to assist me to transfer the money into your account because the bank did not agree to release the money directly to me. The bank wants me to provide somebody as my guardian who can receive the money on my behalf according to the content of my late father's Will.
I will be glad to give you 20% of the money for your assistance after the transfer, and furthermore you will have share in the profit of the investments.
I am honourably seeking your assistance in the
following ways:
(1) I will use it for investment purpose such as Music industries or hotel management .
(2) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred to.
(3) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 18years.
(4) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country.
Please it is important you contact me immedaitely for more clearification on the next step on this transaction.
Awaiting your immediate response
Yours Sincerely
Nina Johnson
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