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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Mary Joshua" <ekiesel@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "maryjoshuatrading@gmail.com" <maryjoshuatrading@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2023 17:09:53 +0100 (CET)
Subject: I Need Your Help For Investment
Dear friend,
How are you doing with your family? I presume that all is well with you.
Permit me to inform you of my desire to go into business relationship with
you?
My father was wealthy cocoa and gold merchant here in Abidjan capital city
of Ivory Coast. He was killed by the rebels that attacked our country Cote
d’Ivoire and took over our town (San-Pedro). I ran to Abidjan the
economical capital of Cote d’Ivoire from where I am contacting you.
Before the death of my late parents, they deposited the sum of Five Million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars in a bank in my name as the next
of kin. My Dear I will like you to help me and get this fund invest in your
country while i continuing my education.
I will give you more details as soon as i hear from you.
Yours Faithfully,
Miss Mary Joshua

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Anti-fraud resources:
