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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:
- "urgent assistance" (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: "Clifford Osei Addo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cliffordoseiaddo@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2017 00:38:10 -0000
Subject: RE GOLD BUSINESS
I am writing to you for your urgent assistance.
I have 300kgs of Gold Bars deposited in a company by my late Father
who have worked for Gold in many years ago and he passes away 6
months.
My late Father deposited this Gold to be exported to his foreign
partner in Dubai but after the death of my Father, I have tried many
times to reach my late Father foreign partner on email and phone but
unfortunately i cannot reach him.
My mother and I, as the only Son has decided to sale this Gold to
enable me pay my school fees, am just 18 years old...
We will send it little by little to you, like 25kgs or 50kgs first delivery.
Send me your details to enable us forward your details to the exporter for export process to your country, all the necessary export documents that cover the Gold will be provide to you.
We will pay you commission of each kilo $4000
The Origin of the Gold is Ghana West Africa...
Thanks.
I wait your urgent Answer.
Sincerely
Clifford Osei Addo
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Anti-fraud resources:
