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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: LILY KONE <lily.kone1@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: lily_kone@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 03:48:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From:LIly kone
From:LIly kone
Abidjan, Cte d'Ivoire
West Africa.
Dear One,
please permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you.
I got your contacts from Ivoirien chamber of commerce and industry.I prayed over it and choose you as the next guardian of my life now.
I know my message will come to you as a surprise. Don't worry i was totally convinced to write you in reference of the transfer of my late father's money US$12.5M to your account for onward investment(Hotel / hospital
business /industries) in your country.
I am Miss Lily Kone, the only daugther of the former Late General Philip Kone, of Cote d'ivoire. My late Father was killed last years 2009following his role as a rebel leader against the government of Cote d'ivoire. Following this political crisis,I was forced to leave our village to Abidjan the capital city of Cote d'Ivoire for my life sake. my father deposited this said money in a prime bank here in Abidjan and used my name as the only daugther as the next of kin. and told me to seek for a foriegn partner in overseas that will help me for investment of this money into his country.
I got to know about this information and as well able to recover all the relevant documents regards to this deposit through his foreign adviser here in Abidjan. If you are truly disposed to assist me in transferring of this fund kindly, i am willing to offer you 15% of this money for your effort made during this transaction.write me through this email address. More information about the transfering of this money legally follows immediately after your positive reply. Hoping to hear from you soonest.
Best regards
Your's
Lily Kone
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