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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "STELLA .C" <m_mr.spencer@unnunk.com>
Reply-To: stchild22@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:36:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Requesting Your Assistance!
Hello Dear,
Peace be unto you.I am writing you not because I have met you before but it¡¦s because I have no other choice than to look for someone who I could trust that will help me in saving the future of my children.
I am the wife of Late Chairperson,Vice.regional vice president for Mindanao of the Pakisama section chair of a Akbayan Partylist in Paquibato District board member of Malabog Integrated Enterprises Development Cooperative, Member of Lupong Tagapamaya (Barangay)
My late husband was recently killed in Philippine on 22nd November 2008.Before my late husband was killed, He deposit a sum of $11.000.000.00USD (Eleven million Dollars) in a security and finance Company abroad and this deposit was coded under a secret arrangement as a family treasure. This means that the security company does not know the content of this trunk box.Since the death of my late husband, the Philippine Government has blocked me and my late husband account and also my late husband family has succeeded in collecting from me all the properties of my late husband because i am not a full Philipine thereby Trying to leave me and my children with nothing.
I am writing you because I want you to help me in securing the money in the box for the future of my children. Since my late husband family made it impossible for me to move out of the house and they are monitoring me.I do not want them to be aware of this deposite of $11.000.000.00USD with the security company abroad before they can lay there hands on it.
I do hope that I can put my trust on you as someone who will not sit on this money when you secure the box to your country.I will give you 18% of the total money inside the box after you have secured the box for your assistance to me and my children. If you are willing to help me, email me back so that i will give you more details on this issue.
Thanks and God be with you as i wait to hear from you urgently
Best regards
Stella
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