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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Ka Ba" <ryuuta05202000@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Ms. Ka Ba" <ka1001ba@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2015 01:22:58 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Sir/Madam
It is indeed my pleasure to request for business partnership with great pleasure, I write to solicit for your assistance in a matter that can be of mutual benefit to us. I am in search of an agent to assist us in the transfer of (USD$25M) and subsequent investment in properties in your country. You will be required to
(1) Assist in the transfer of the said funds
(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment project
(3) Assist us in purchase of properties or any profitable business in your locality.
Please note, the legitimacy of this transaction is well pronounce, which I will personally explain to you to determine your true position. I have the authority of my colleagues involved to propose that your consent to this transaction will be highly compensated by a percentage agreed upon by both parties after a successful completion of this project. Further information concerning the transaction shall be forwarded to you upon your response to this letter.
Endeavor to contact me immediately because we will not compromise this transaction with any form of exposure, as we are still in active civil service.
Thank you and God bless, as I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
I wait to hear from you.
Yours Faithfully,
Ms. K. Ba
Contract Award Commission & Committee.
Department of Mineral & Energy
Republic of Cote D’ivoire
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Anti-fraud resources:
