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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 american 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)
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (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: Selena Damascus <selen.damascus29@msn.com>
Reply-To: <msselena_damascus@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 10:22:23 +0000
Subject: From Ms.Selena Damascus.
>From Ms.Selena Damascus.
My name is Ms.Selena Damascus the daughter of Dr.Romeric Damascus. My father was an Ivorian politician who served as the Minister of the Interior and chief of staff and secretary general for ousted former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo during the 2002–2011 Ivorian political crisis/civil war and he was also a top ally of ousted former president Laurent Gbagbo. It is sad to say that he died on Tuesday April 12 2011 at PISAM hospital after he was severally beating and shut at the presidential residence by armed rebels/republican forces of Cote d’Ivoire (FRCI) of Alassane Ouattara who is now the president of my country Cote d’Ivoire . Here is the video of his transfer to PISAM where he died:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR7jsaM4aGc
My Mother Aminatu 41 years and my younger brother Kadeh 13 years and my little sister Jane 9 years were all murdered in Deukoué while feeling the crisis. You can also see the video of the massacre in Deukoué: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcobnG3HSkY
Before the death of my father in PISAM hospital in Cocody Abidjan, he told me of his deposit valued ( 6. million dollars)( SIX MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS ). Left in one of the Famous Bank here in Abidjan, Please I need your kind and urgent assistance to transfer and invest this money in your country and also come to your country to continue my education.
As soon as I receive your urgent reply indicating your interest to assist me to successfully transfer the money to your country, I will give you all the necessary information you may require to proceed towards transferring the money.
Finally, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total money as mode of compensation for your effort for assisting me with this humble request as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within few days you signify your interest to assist me.Please if you are willing to carry out this project with me kindly provide to me your Contact Details such as: Your Full Names: Home And Country Address: Direct Telephone number. Photo if Possible.
Thank you and God bless you.
Yours affectionately
Ms.Selena Damascus.
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