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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "lome togo" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- anita.laurance@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: iwoh8@terra.com
Date:
Subject:
Hello dear,
Please after reading this mes=
sage please reply me through my private email.(anita.laurance@yahoo.com )
Good day and compliments of the seasons. I am Mrs Anita Laurence an a=
ging widow from Sierra-Leone suffering from (Neck Cancer) I and my son Denn=
is Laurence and my husband lived here in LOME TOGO before he died . My late=
husband Dr Martin Laurence was a politician and a well known Importer befo=
re his death. I deemed it necessary to disclose this important issue to you=
as I believe you can be of good assistance.
I inherited this sum US=
$7 Millions Dollars from my late husband. My late husband deposited this fu=
nd in a fixed suspense account in one of the banks here with an agreement t=
hat this fund is to be transferred into a foreign account for importation o=
f cocoa procession machines.
Last week, I went to the bank for the c=
laim of this money, the bank Manager told me precisely that I cannot have a=
ccess to this fund because of this agreement. He advised me to look for a f=
oreigner to help me provide an account where the money can be transferred.<=
br>
Please I am asking for your trust and honest co-operation and I guar=
antee to assist me receive this fund in your account in your country and us=
e it as I directed you here below.(1. 30% for the well-being of the poor in=
your country or elsewhere in the world. (2) 50% you will invest for my son=
Dennis and assist him come over to your country to further his education. =
(3) 15% for you and another 5% for you to cover any expenses which you may =
incur in this transaction.
If you are interested, please reply immed=
iately. But before I give you the bank contact, I would want you to provide=
me with the below requirements.
1. Your name
2. Your contact add=
ress
3. Your telephone
4. Your age
5. Your Occupation
6. Will y=
ou be able to assist my son in getting his traveling documents to come over=
to your country after the fund is transferred to your account?
Plea=
se remember to reply me through my private email .(anita.laurance@yahoo.com=
)
I am waiting for your reply.
From your beloved sister,
Mrs Anita=
Laurence.
+228 98800698
Please Reply-to Address
(anita.laurance@y=
ahoo.com )
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Anti-fraud resources:
