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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:
- "hundred thousand u.s 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: With God <withgod2003@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 01:11:56 +0100
Subject: Ref: Investment Partnering.
My Dearest,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which my sister and
I intend to establish in your country. Though I have not met with you
before but I believe one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed
sometimes in life.
There is this amount of Seven million five hundred thousand U.S dollars
($7.500, 000.00) which my late Father kept for us with a Private Vault
before his death. Now my sister and I have decided to invest this money
anywhere safe enough outside our Country for my study and my sister future.
We want you to transfer and invest this fund in any lucrative business were
tax will not take much tools.
If you can be of assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you some
20% of the total fund while you manage the investment for us. I await your
soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Samuel Adjei Boateng.
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Anti-fraud resources:
