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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.
- 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.
- susanashley39@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS MABEL ASHLEY" <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mabel_ashley@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:35:09 +0530 (IST)
Subject:
I am writing from the hospital, therefore this mail is very urgent as you
can see that I am going home. I was
told by the doctor that I was poisoned and has got my liver damaged and
can only live for some months.
I inherited some money ($15.5 Million) from my late father and I cannot
think of anybody trying to kill me apart
from my step mother in order to inherit the money.
I want you to know that i am in pains, and all I am worried about is my
adopted daughter Susan, why because I do
not want her to suffer if I do not survive this present condition that is
why I am seeking for your assistance for
her safety and well being, she is only 15 years. I promised to take good
care of her and make her become grate in
life but the wicked people in this world my step mother have poisoned me
because of my inheritance so please you
have to sincerely help me.
I will be going in for the operation in few days so please pray for me
for my survival but on the other hand
incase of anything all I need is your sincere assistance and l need
financial help from you because I do not have
enough. but life comes from the Most High God.
I want you to contact my daughter Susan with this information below:
Name:Miss Susan Ashley.
Email: susanashley39@yahoo.com
This is the favor I need when you have gotten the money:
(1) My beloved daughter Susan should be given 30% I want you to take
Her along with you to your country and establish her
(2) Give 20% of the money to Charity Organizations and Churches on my
Name so that my soul may rest in peace.
If I don't hear from you within two days, I will look for another person.
May God bless you and use you to accomplish my wish.
Pray for me always.
Mrs Mabel Ashley,
Thank you Holy Father
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