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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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Abdou Karamoh <abdoukaramoh19@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: abdoukaramoh@rocketmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 19:39:50 -0400
Subject: hello - from Abdou Karamoh
Good Day,
I am Abdou Karamoh 17 years old boy from Sierra Leone, I am writing
you from republic of Cote d'Ivoire where I have been taking as refuge
after the brutal murder of my parents during the war crisis in my
country. I need your assistance to secure my inheritance and adopt me
like your son by going to get me out from refugee camp here where I am
staying now please.
It is Because of the war my father sold his company and deposit US$
9,000,000.00 million dollars in one of the bank here in Ivory Coast.
Please I am seeking for your urgent assistance to transfer this money
to your country for good investment project so that I can relocate to
your country to further my education study for my good future.
Kindly reply me.
Best regards,
Abdou Karamoh
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Anti-fraud resources:
