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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- mrsturidano@ciudad.com.ar (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Turi Dano" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsturidano@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:02:57 +0100
Subject: Kindly respond
Dear Beloved ,
I am Mrs. Turi Dano a citizen of Kuwait but currently residing in the United Kingdom. I was married to Late Baba Dano of blessed memory who was an oil explorer in Kuwait and Angola for fifteen years before he died.
We were married for twelve years without a child; he died after a brief illness. Since his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and fibroid problems because of the shock I received from my husband's death. When my late Husband was alive he deposited a huge amount of money with a bank in the United Kingdom which I inherited after his death as the next of kin.
Recently, my doctor told me that I have only 2 month to live due to my ailment.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to either a
charity/orphanage home or devoted God fearing individual that will
utilize this money the way I am going to instruct therein. I want this individual to use this money in all sincerity to fund charity
homes (motherless homes), orphanages. I took this decision because I
don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husbands relatives are after me because of the money and I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner, hence the reasons for this decision.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health condition which has seriously affected my speech. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you further directives on what to do and how to go about actualizing this project through my attorney who will file an application on your behalf to the bank for the transfer of the money to you.
Until I hear from you through this email:mrsturidano@ciudad.com.ar. My dreams rest squarely on your shoulders.
Remain blessed,
Mrs. Turi Dano .
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