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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)
- "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: Miss Sonya Divo <ajagood@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: Miss Sonya Divo <sonyadivo_1@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:33:48 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Miss Sonya Divo
>From Miss Sonya Divo
Abidjan Ivory Coast
West AfricaÂ
Dear,
I am Miss Sonya Divo the only daughter of late Mr and Mrs Divo from West Africa. It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intended to establish in your country. though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk in other to succeed in life.
I am in position of Nine million Five hundred thousand U.S dollars which my late kept for me before he was assassinated by unknown persons during the war in Cote d’Ivoire.
Now I want to move this money and invest it in your country or anywhere safe enough for security and political reasons.
Thanks
am waiting for your urgent respond so that we can proceed
Sonya Divo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
