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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrkone2011@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- please copy your reply to my alternate email address (mrkone2011@hotmail.com) i will be waiting to hearing from you soonest. thanks (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mrkone2011@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:52:02 +0100
Subject: RE: A JUSTICE CRUSADER IN TROUBLE....
Dear Sir/Madam,
My Name is Mr. Bernard Koné, I am a Journalist crusading for Peace and Justice in Côte d'Ivoire.
Because of my outspokenness for justice and to place the rightful winner of the October 2010 Presidential election who is Mr. Alassane Ouattara to be placed in office the former president Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and his band of political thugs have been hunting for me and trying to murder me.
I managed to escape from Côte d'Ivoire to the Republic of Benin by disguising my identity. I have the money which I was planning to invest into media in my country with me. I could not invest this money because of the political unrest in Côte d'Ivoire and my identity that is everywhere. The money is a total amount of US$14,200,000 only. I am still not secured with that whole amount here, I am therefore seeking your assistance to help move the money out of here and kept it securely under your care until I am able to secure an asylum in your country. I am willing to give you 25% for this help.
The money is in a secured position with me, you only need to come down to Benin Republic and assist me to secure the money out of Cotonu under your name. I will be happy to get your direct phone contact details so I can call you and speak with you in person regarding this. Please copy your reply to my alternate email address (mrkone2011@hotmail.com) I will be waiting to hearing from you soonest.
Thanks for your anticipated help
Mr. Bernard Koné
DL: +22966768791
Email: mr.bernardkon@yahoo.fr
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