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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- nancy001b@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: <nancy001b@excite.co.jp>
Reply-To: nancy001b@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 02 Dec 2015 21:52:46 +0900
Subject: Looking for investment assistance
Mrs Nancy Mabawah
Abidjan Cote D' Ivoire
ATTN
In brief introduction i am Mrs Nancy Mabawah the wife of the late Dr Paul Mabawah Jr of the blessed memory with due respect which i believe you will be of great assistance to me and my children prior to my husband assasination by forces loyal to corporal Foday Sankoh of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) he was the Director General of National Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation of sierra leone Two weeks before my husband assasination he deposited the sum of (US$15.500.000) fifteen million five hundred thousand united state dollars in a security company here in cote d' iviore .three days before his assasination he instructed me and my children ( James and Rose ) to move out of sierra leone immediately to cote d' ivoire a nearby country because of the political crisis before the powerfully economic community of west african states (ECOMOG) forces intervened which eventually resulted into brutal civil war .
The trunk box containing the funds was deposited as family valuable and treasures for security reasons in the security company custudy .right now because of the upheaval political crisis , i found it unwise to invest this fund here in african countries i am asking for your assistance in transferring of this funds to your country where there is political stability for investment wise for the future of my family .i agree to give you 20% of the total sum in question , as your entitlement for assisting us in transferring the said funds and we have mapped 5% of the total funds for any expenses which you may incure in assisting us like, telephone calls bill,travelling and accommodation.
Reply me toemail ;;;;; nancy001b@yahoo.co.jp
Your Faithfully
Mrs Nancy Mabawah ( James and Rose )for the family
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