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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: FROM MISS CLARA YAYAH <william_tom2222@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: miss.clarayayah212@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:39:45 +0530 (IST)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?Q0FOIEkgVFJVU1QgWU9VP+KAjw==?=
Good Day my dear
I know this mail will come as surprise to you but in a brief introduction. My name is Miss Clara Yayah from Ghana west Africa. I am 21 years old,i am the only daughter of my parents,and i have a younger brother who is here with me, my father was a highly reputable cocoa merchant base in Ghana and overseas but unfortunately he pass away on 10th Auguste 2009 with a brief illness and also my mother die on heart fellow because of the death of my father,It is my pleasure communicating with you for the first time and believing that it will lead to a better relationship between us. I have an inheritance that I would want to invest in your country.The amount is US$7 million Dollars and 140kilos of Gold. which my father Deposited in one of the leading security and finance company here in Ghana,I want you to stand as my late father business partner in claiming the money from the security and finance company here. I am ready to part with 30% of the total sum to you
if only you assist me to claim the money and also investing the money in any lucrative business with me and my younger brother.Mr Osman Yayah will give you more detail and forwarded all vital information as soon as I hear from you.
Please your urgent reply to me is highly anticipated.
Sincere.
Miss Clara Yayah
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Anti-fraud resources:
