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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- mrjohnson.abu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ddddd.ddddd6@aol.fr
Date: Wed, 3 May 2017 01:08:31 -0400
Subject: Dearest One, DO NOT FAIL TO REPLY MY PRIVATE
Email(mrjohnson.abu@yahoo.com)
Dearest One, DO NOT FAIL TO REPLY MY PRIVATEEmail(mrjohnson.abu@yahoo.com)
I know that message cometo you as a surprise. I am the Auditing and Accounting section manager with Bank Of Africa BOA . I Hope that you will notexpose or betray trust and confident which I am respose on you themutual benefit for families.I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of($6)million to your account within10 or 14 banking days.note that you willhave 40% of the above mentioned sum while 60% will be for me
The money has been dormant for years in our Bank without claim.Iwant the bank to release the money toyou as the nearest person to our deceased customer,besides I don't wantthe money to go into government treasuryas an abandoned fund. So is the reasonwhy I am contacting you so that the bankcan release the money to you as the next of kin to the deceased customer.Please I would like you tokeep proposal as a top secret between meand you. Upon receipt of your reply,
I will give you full details on how the business will beexecuted and also note that you will have40% of the above mentioned sum while 60% will be for me,if you agree tohandle business with me replyimmediately.DO NOT FAIL TO REPLY MYPRIVATE Email(mrjohnson.abu@yahoo.com)
(1.) your Name:
(2.) Country:
(3.)Phone Nb:
(4.)your passport:
(5.)your Occupation:
DO NOT FAIL TO REPLY MYPRIVATE Email(mrjohnson.abu@yahoo.com)
Best Regards,
Mr Johnson Abu
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Anti-fraud resources: