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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: James Moore <evans5cosky@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: james_moore1111@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 11:45:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Urgent Assistance Needed From You.
Dear Friend,
I know this might come to you as a surprise since you don’t know me and we have never met before, but it was burn out of my desire of good business of mutual understanding that can go between us if properly treated with better understanding.
I am James Moore, a cousin to Charles Taylor the former president of Liberia who is now facing war crime. I want you to help me retrieve a consignment containing US$75m {Seventy Five Million Dollars only}.Deposited in a bank call account. The consignment was deposited in the bank as a family treasure.
I was sentenced for 9 years in prison for murder instead of manslaughter.
I knocked a man down with my vehicle here in Ghana and he died at the sport. Thank God that I only serve for 6years 6months.
I want you to assist me invest these funds in your Country; I will give you 30%. All I want from you is to arrange to meet with me here in Ghana, we will go to the bank with the lawyer that helps me out of the prison, submit your bank account and instruct the bank for further credit to your nominated account.
Kindly observe strict confidence on this matter.
Regards
James Moore
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