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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- "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.
- agnesphilipkoffil@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Agnes Martin Philip Martin <agnesphilipkoffi21@outlook.fr>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2017 13:45:09 +0000
Subject: Ms Agnes Martin
Hello ,
I am Ms Agnes Martin, 22 years old girl and my junior brother is Philip Martin 20 years old boy we are from Cote d'Ivoire,we are the children of late Mr. Martin Koffi who was murdered by REBELS last Sis years
Before the death of my late father he had a money a deposited with a Bank in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire that contains the sum of Five Million United States Dollars
Please, I need your assistance to enable the Bank transfer the money to your country for the investments purpose also in order to be our guardian.
I am willing to offer you reasonable percentage from the total money as compensation for your effort.Please Reply me to this email addresse( agnesphilipkoffil@gmail.com<mailto:agnesphilipkoffil@gmail.com> )
Your Sincerely
Ms Agnes Martin
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Anti-fraud resources:
