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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Maria Kone <queen_4u2008@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Miss Maria Kone <mariakone1992@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 20:32:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: kindly read and get back to me
Hello Dear......
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise My dear.
I am Beauty Maria Kone 24 years old female from the Republic of Cote D,Ivoire, the Daughter of Late Major Kone Jammeh. My father was a business man and also deal in Golds before he met his death in Cote d’Ivoire on 24 March 2007.
Please Dear i contact you because I am seeking for long term relationship and investment assistance.,Please get back to me so that i can tell you why i contact you for.
Waiting to hear from you,so that i will also know if you get my message.
Be bless.
You beloved Sister Maria Kone.
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Anti-fraud resources:
