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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (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 orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Angela Abel <abelangela02@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:45:23 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please I Need Your Urgent Assistance
Attn Please
Dearest
I know really that this message will come to you as a surprise but please permit me to introduce myself to you because i am seriously in need of your assistance.
My name is Miss.Angela Abel From Ivory coast in West Africa. My parents where victims of the political crises war which recently occurred in my country because my father was accused of supporting the past president who is now in prison in Holland and since then the rebels are seeking a way to eliminate my life after assassinating my father and my mother and by the grace of God i except from the hand of the rebels and ran to hide in Capital city of our country Abidjan IVORY COAST for security of my life.
I am the only surviving child of my late parents and that has made me to run away for security of my life to Abidjan after i found out that my parents where killed in this political crises war.
My entire dream now is to find someone reliable overseas whom I can trust with my future life and my inheritance and also who will be able to assist for my relocation abroad and also assist me in my investment plans abroad.I am seriously in need of reliable person, who will assist me in my investment plans over there in your country and that is why i contacted you.
My late father deposited the sume worth $USD 4.5 million before he was killed which I inherited now as the only surviving daughter from my late father who was a traditional ruler and an international business man before he was assassinated with my family members because he was accused of supporting past government,
Now I am ready and wanted to relocate out of this country for security of my life because my life is in danger now and I will continue my education and so you will also assist me to secure a business opportunity in your country as I wish to invest this fund in any lucrative business in your country.
I need to invest the money in your country because of my situation here is guaranteed, besides we do not have fair investment opportunities here in our country because of frequent political crisis.Please your assistance is highly needed to enable me achieve my educational career in your country.
Your urgent response is needed so that I will give you full details on my plans for relocating to your country for these establishment and also the contact of the bank where the fund is deposited
I will appreciate if you inform me immediately so that I will start making an urgent arrangement with the bank here without much delay for transferring of the fund to your account.
Please contact me immediately on this mail as soon as you receive this mail because i am worried over my security here
Thanks for your your caring as i am waiting to hear from you.
Please I Need Your Urgent Assistance
Miss Angela Abel.
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