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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Diana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <douglasdiana56@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 22:26:09 +0100
Subject: Ok!
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: Diana Douglas
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO
RE: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE,
I am writing with my personal respect with regards to your reposed personality/firm as a reliable, Trustworthy and God fearing. I got your contact through the help a friend who works at the Chamber of Commerce in Ouagadougou the Capital of Burkina Faso.
In deed I am Diana Douglas the wife of Late MR.KOVO DOUGLAS from Sierra Leone. I and my two children are presently staying in Burkina Faso as Refugees; my husband was one of the Ministers of Johnny Paul Koromah's regimes in Sierra Leone. During the intervention of the ECOMOG Soldiers to Restore the presidency of Alhaji Tejan KABBAH from Johnny Koromah, my husband was among the 23 executed Ministers. As our breadwinner is dead (my husband) And our stay in Sierra Leone is no more save. I and my two children decided to move to Burkina Faso a Neighbouring African Country for safety. Due to our Status in Burkina Faso as refugees I was forced to Lodge our family funds (US$15.4 Million) in a finance house.
Since then we have been receiving help from our Mission. Because we are staying in one of the Visitor’s villa in the church premises and attend Fellowship and worship fully. I hope you will be touched to understand my request. We have agreed to invest our money in a viable business venture overseas country through your assistance and directives. You will provide or look for a lucrative business venture where this money can be invested on. Before proceeding further, we will get to be more familiar and also go into an understanding working agreement because our family's Future now depends on this money.
The boxes containing the money and treasures were all deposited and registered as family treasures. This was done for Security reasons we would like to know what you will take as your percentage for assisting us. We sincerely wish to introduce and make you our Business Partner and overseer of our proposed Investment in your Country. We are prepared to send all the documents regarding to this deposit as soon as you show your concerned interest through an email response including the following
1. Your full names and Office or residential address
2. Private telephone and fax numbers.
3. Your private email address.
Best regards,
Mrs. Diana Douglas
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