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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Amarina.koll" <amarina.koll2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Amarina.koll" <mrs.amarina.koll33@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 21:36:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Mrs Amarina Koll.
my name is mrs.Amarina.koll from Austra. I was working with UN in Germany before I am married to Dr. koll who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast (Cote D’ivoire) for a period of 8 years before he died. We were married for 12 years without a child before he died after a brief illness. Since his death I decided not to marry again When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$4.5m (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United State dollars) with a save Bank in Ivory Coast (Cote D’ivoire). Presently this money is still in the custody of the Bank in Ivory Coast. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Four months due to cancer illness.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this money to church’s, organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want you to use this money for churches, Charity organization, orphanages, widows and other people that are in need.
As soon as I receive your reply I will give you further instructions on how you can claim this money from the Bank in Ivory Coast where this money is deposited.Hoping to receive your response soonest.
Mrs Amarina Koll.
Thanks and Remain blessed.
Yours sister in the Lord
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Anti-fraud resources:
