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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:
- "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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Amelia Benson." <oigddq@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "Miss Amelia Benson." <amelia.benson@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2017 22:31:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Thanks for your kindness and understanding.
From Miss Amelia Benson
N° 20 Avenue 16 Treichville.
Abidjan.
Â
I am Miss Amelia Benson and in order to escape alive from our country Liberia because of the then prevailing crisis and civil war, my father relocated his remaining assets outside the country after
the destruction of everything we had.
Â
I am presently contacting you from the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and Weakened by the tragic death of my father, i do not get any assistance because of the political
situation and many years of civil war there.
Â
But before his death, he told me about the sum of Five Million Two Hundred Thousand Euros (€5,200,000.00) which he
deposited in a bank here.
Â
I have contacted you now for assistance and support in getting this fund to your account and i assure you
that everything will be done safely so you receive this money in your country.
Kindly reply me through my more secure email if you are truly ready to assist and support me in getting this money moved out of here and to your account.
Thanks as we wait to hear from you.
Â
Respectfully.
Miss Amelia Benson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
