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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Armand Gami <armand_gami@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: a_gami2013@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:05:05 +0100
Subject: To your attention please .
To your attention please .
I apologize for contacting you this way. I am Armand Gami , I am a young 17 year old Ivorian . I dream and desire to come to settle in your country to start a new life.
As you know , my country, Ivory Coast is emerging from a long and bloody civil war. So I want to go into exile because the conditions here have become very dangerous. my entire family was killed during the civil war and I am the only survivor. I will not come to your country empty-handed , I have inherited a capital of my deceased father and I want to invest it. I need your help to transfer my inheritance to your country and also help me come and join you there.
do you think that this investment would allow me to have the right of residence? would you welcome me and be my guardian ? especially because I want to continue my studies once in your country .
I hope to read from you so that we can build friendly relations.
God bless you.
Armand
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Anti-fraud resources:
