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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 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Martin Williams <martin_willames@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 23:06:47 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Hello My Dear
Hello My Dear
Good day to you. It is our pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my sister intend to establish in your country. I am Martin Williams and my sister Mery. Although we have not met with you before but I believe, you will regard us as your friend and treat this message urgently.
We are writing you in absolute confidence to seek your assistance to transfer the sum of seven million five hundred thousand United State Dollars USD ($7,500,000.00) which our late father deposited in a bank here in Ivory Coast. He wanted to used this money for his political reason in our Country before he was assassinated on his out Political campaign with our mother.
Now I and my sister have decided to invest these money in a country were there is no political war because we don't want to experience what we have past through in the past again. We want to transfer these funds for investment in your country. That was why I felt happy when I saw your contact because I strongly believe that by the grace of God you will help me invest this money wisely.
We are ready to pay 20% of the total amount to you if you can help us to manage this money another 10% as annual interest to you especially for securing the money for us in a good busines which you will have absolute control over.
We are honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways also (1)To serve as a guardian of this fund (2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country. Please for securiry reasons of this transaction,
I await your soonest response for more details.
Respectfully
Martin and Mery
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Anti-fraud resources:
