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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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: Mariam Sylvie Tagro <richealtagma@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mariamsylvietagro@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:16:45 +0100
Subject: I REQUEST YOU TO BE MY GUARDIA..
I REQUEST YOU TO BE MY GUARDIAN AND THEN HELP ME TO COME OVER YOUR COUNTRY
My name is Miss Mariam Sylvie Tagro (21 years) the only surviving daughter of
the late Desir Assegnini Tagro. My father was anIvorian politician who as
interior Minister and Secretary General of the oustedformer Ivorian President
Laurent Gbagbo served during the 2002-2011 Ivorian political crises.
He died on
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by 21GMT in hospital after he was hit severally and
closed his mouth at the presidential residence by armed rebel forces (FRCI)
Alassane Ouattara from, which is now the president of my country Cote
d'Ivoire.
For the death of my father in hospital in Cocody Abidjan PISAM, he told me of
Three million Three hundred thousand united states
dollars($3.3million)Left in a
bank here in Abidjan, please I'm asking your kind and urgent assistance to
transfer and invest this fund in your country and for me coming to
your country
to continue my education. I am willing to offer you 20% of the total money and
help me.
Thank you and God bless you
Miss Mariam Sylvie Tagro
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Anti-fraud resources:
