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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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: "willy" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kenny112@cantv.net>
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:29:59 -0000
Subject: FROM KENNY WILLIAMS
MY DEAR,
FROM KENNY WILLIAMS.
ABIDJAN, COTE D' IVOIRE.
WEST AFRICA.
MY NAME IS KENNY WILLIAMS NATIONALITY SIERRA LEONE. I AM 22YEARS
OLD STUDING MARKETING BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNIVERSITY.I LOST MY FATHER YEARS BACK HE DIED DRURING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN MYCOUNTRY. MY LATE FATHER WAS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS UNDER TIJAN KABBAHGOVERNMENT. MY SISTER JULEIT IS 18 YEARS. WE ARE LEAVING IN COTE D'IVOIRESINCE PAST SIX MONTH. IT IS
MY DESIRE TO WRITE FROM MY HEART HOPING THAT
YOU WILL NOT BETRAY US.
MY FATHER DIVERTED SOME HUGE SOME OF MONEY WHICH HE
DEPOSITED IN THE BANK
HERE IN ABIDJAN WHEN HE WAS ALIFE. IN FACT IN A BRIFE INTRODUTION ALL
THE INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU. THIS MONEY TOTALING IS US$ 9,000,000.00( NINE MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS ) NOW WE ARE SEEKING FOR A TRUSTED PERSON WHO WILL RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO HIS/HER
ACCOUNT FOR ONWARD INVESTMENT. HOWEVER, WHAT WE NEEDED FROM YOU IS YOUR GOOD ASSISTANCE IN
HELPING US TRANSFERRING THE SAID SUM TO YOUR ACCOUNT
SINCE WE ARE INEXPERENCED IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ALL DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE DEPOSIT MAY BE GIVEN TO YOU FOR YOUR
VERIFICATION. WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE THE FUND OUT OF AFRICA TO ABROAD. I AND MY SISTER HAVE DECIEDED TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE AND 15% WILL BE ALSO MAPPED OUT SETTLE
FOR ANY EXPENCES YOU MAKE IN THIS TRANSFER. YOU KNOW THE WORLD IS FULL OF BAD PEOPLE SO PLEASE I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS TRANSECTION VERY CONFIDENTIAL CONSIDER THAT THIS
IS MONEY AND HOW THE MONEY WAS GOTTEN. IT IS INHERITACE AND LAST HOPE.
OUR BEST
REGARDS
KENNY AND JULIET WILLIAMS
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Anti-fraud resources:
