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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "CATIM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vxl123@westci.net>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:39:42 -0000
Subject: From Williams & Suzan
Good day,
We are Williams and Suzan Catim from Sierra Leone. We are writing you from Rep of Cote 'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country.
Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$ 19,300,000.00 Million in a security company here in Abidjan for investment purposes.
We got your profile from this site and due to the current political situation in Ivory Coast we are seeking for your assistance to transfer this box of Money into your country if you will not betray us when the money gets to your country and So we can also relocate to your country to further our studies. We are willing to offer you 25% of the total sum for your help.If any help can be render,kindly get back to us with your full contacts details to enable proceed.All the documents of the deposit will be sent to you through fax as soon as we hear from you.
Regards,
Wiliams and Suzan Catim
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Anti-fraud resources:
