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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 u.s 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: murielkabba1@rediffmail.com
Reply-To: murielkabba@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:41:00 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From:Muriel Kabba
From:Muriel Kabba.
15 rue Paris Villa Cocody,
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.
Dear Respectful one,
I am totally convinced to write you in reference of the transfer of( 4.5
U S$ )to your account for onward investment (industries) in your
country. Though we have not met before but I strongly believe that one
has to confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.
There is this amount of Four Million, five hundred thousand U.S dollars
($4.500, 000.00) which my late Father (Late Mr.T.Williams Kabba)
deposited for me in a and storage firm here in Abidjan before he was
assassinated by some unknown hoodlums in on going political war here .
Because of recent political/civil war eructed here, I decided to invest
this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for
security and political reasons.
I want you to help me to transfer this fund to your country for
investment.
If you can be of assistance to me, I will be pleased to offer to you the
20% Of this total fund (indicated above).
Further details will be made known to you on confirmation of your
interest to assist me .
Your urgent reply will be highly appreciated.
.Thanking you and God bless.
From:Muriel Kabba.
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Anti-fraud resources:
