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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:
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Philip Abbas <philip.abbas4@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 13:50:30 +0100
Subject: May the peace of God be with you
Dearest,
May the peace of God be with you.
I am Philip the only son of late Mr.Raoul Abbas, I Am writing you from Rep
of Cote D'Ivoire where I have been taking refuge after the brutal war and
Murder of my parents by the rebels during the war in my country.
After my praying and fasting God directed me to contact you for your
assistance to transfer my only Inheritance Money (3.5 Million US Dollars
into your account for investment projet until i finish my school.
Because of the war my late father sold his company and deposited this money
in one of the bank here.
My late father and some top Government Officials was attacked and killed by
the rebels during the war.
This sudenly death of my father has course alot of set back in my life and
my only hope of survival is this money which he deposited in the bank.
I am humbly seeking for your assistance to transfer this money out from
here,before it get into the hands of some currupt government officials here.
You will make a good arrangment for investment project until i finish my
education also help me to start a new life overthere.
I am willing to offer you 20% percent from the total sum for your help.
Plesae I need the folowing informations where this money will be transfer
as the bank requested from us,Your full Names house addresses and phone
number.
As I get your intrest of helping me I will introduce you officialy to the
bank as my late father's foreign partner.
For more details reply immediately
Philip.
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Anti-fraud resources:
