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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:
- "million us 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sra Elizabeth Ibrahim" <hr@propnex.com.my>
Reply-To: mrs.elizabethibrahim02@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2023 09:48:27 +0200
Subject: Espero su respuesta urgente
My name is Mrs. Elizabeth Ibrahim I am the manager of auditing and
accounting department at BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) here in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso.
In my department i discovered an abandoned sum US$5.5 million us
dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer who
died along with his entire family on July 2013 in a plane crash. Since
we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of
kin to come over and claim his money because we can not release
itunless some body applies for it as next of kin or relation to the
deceased.
Unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation
died alongside with him at the plane crash leaving nobody behind
forthe claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I now decided
to make this business proposal to you, so that the money can be
release to your account as the next of kin. And I agreed to offer you
50% of this money as my foreign partner after confirmation of the fund
in your bank account.I just need your services in a confidential
matter regarding (fund) in my bank.This requires a private
arrangement.
You will receive these funds under legitimate arrangement that will
protect both of us. All legal documents will be carefully worked out
to ensure a risk free transfer. 50% of the total sum would be your own
portion at the end of this deal.
The said sum is the profit / interest my branch realized during a
period of 10 banking years. Further details will be sent to you as
soon as possible.You should contact me immediately as soon as you
receive this letter.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Elizabeth Ibrahim
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