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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)
- "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)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Rose Kone." <r1111ose@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: msrosekone300@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:04:05 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Greetings to you.
Greetings to you.
It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish with you in your country, though we have not met before but one have to believe in someone before having a success.
I am 19 years old the only child of my late parent Late Jean Kone, Abidjan, republic of Ivory Coast or (Cote d'Ivoire). Due to the series of continuous war in our country for multiple years ago,there is this huge amount of five Million, five hundred thousand U.S dollars ($5.5 000 000.00) which my late father deposited in finance firm in Ivory Coast here before he was assassinated by some unknown enemies.
Now I have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough for security and political reasons. I urgent that you help me to invest this fund in your country in any lucrative venture you discover good.
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
1. Can you honestly help me as your Friend?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. Can you get me a good school for the continuation of my educational?
Carrier which was disrupts by the sudden death of my parents?
If you can be of an honest and sincere assistance to me, I will be pleased to offer to you 20% of the total fund for your kind and humane assistance.
Further details will be made known to you upon the confirmation of your interest to assist me.
I am God faring person if you will honest help me to retrieve the trunk box in the security company.
Thanks.
Rose Kone.
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