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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 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Pastor Samuel Kojo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <samuelkojo@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 06:36:09 -0800
Subject: BELOVED
Destitute Hope Foundation
Plot 201 Avenue Techima Ghana.
God bless you,
In humility i come to you with good confident that you are such a person that has sympathy for humanity, my name is Pastor Samuel Kojo director
of the above mentioned foundation. I am writing you in regards to a good friend of mine and founder of the Destitute Home Foundation,
Who was a foreigner and the managing director of an investment firm here in Ghana Unfortunately my friend died in 2008, He established this foundation to help less privileged minority people in our society which he
was doing before his unfortunate death .
The bank contacted me a month ago as the director of his foundation and a trustee to recommend a next of kin to the funds since he (Our Late
founder) died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the fund deposit made with the bank amounting to USD9 Million (Nine Million
Dollars).
The essence of this communication with you is to request that you provide me with information/comments on any or all of the four issues as regards
nominating you to inherit the fund left behind since you are a foreigner hence eligible to stand for claim of the funds. I have therefore
contacted you to be legally nominated as next of kin (inheritor) to Our Late founder after all inquiries and investigation even with the relevant
embassy has yielded results showing that there is no known or living next of kin.
You are required therefore to answer this questions to enable me make my recommendation to The Trust Bank Ghana. Can you confirm your willingness
to accept this inheritance if you are legally and legitimately nominated through my recommendation to the bank and approved to stand as inheritor
to this funds. Would you agree to donate 60% of this inheritance to our charity organization if you are officially recommended to the bank in my
powers to stand as the Inheritor? It is important that you inform me of your interest towards the issues mentioned. You must understand that I am constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point.
Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford me the opportunity to provide you with more information on this matter and upon your consent proceed with the recommendation of your person to the bank as the inheritor of the funds.
Thank you for accommodating this inquiry.
Remain Blessed.
Pastor. Samuel Kojo
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