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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million 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 "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.
- rebeccabarry5@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Rebecca Barry <r_barry4u10@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: rebeccabarry5@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:37:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Greetings with Love Of God,
Greetings with Love Of God,
>From Mrs Rebecca Barry
Rue de Gabon ABIDJAN 01.
COTE D'IVORIE, West Africa.
I am the Mrs Rebecca Barry from Abidjan the capital of Ivory Coast. I am
married to Late Mr John Barry of blessed memory who was a well known cocoa
dealer in Abidjan for through out his life before he died in the year
2009. we where married for 11 years withoit a child.
Before his surden death we where Christian, When my late husband was alive
he packaged the sum of 4.5.Million dollars in a hard metal trunk box and
deposited it with one of the Security Company here in my country . As a
result of high rate of conflate going on in this country as of then,
Presently this money is still with the Security Company in my country and
i am very sick from cancer fibroid and tumor that i may not last till the
next two months according to my doctor so i want to donate this Fund to a
Christian organisation or individual who will use it to work for God
Almight and i have choose you after going through your profile.
I want this money to be sheard amount the next privillaged since i do not
have a child to inherit it and my late husband relatives are all
Non-belivers and i don't want my husbands heard earn money to be used by
unbelivers. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I know that
after death I will be with God, the most holy and the most merciful.
It is a very important confidential massage that i will like to tell you
more about it so get intouch with me so that i can fully detail you what i
choose you for and as well give you a little knowladge on how to achive
it. Any delay in your respond will give me room to seek for another
Christian organisation or individual for this same pupose. Until i hear
from you my dreams lay suquestly on your shoulders Hoping to hearing from
you soon. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to the
needy.Please reply me through my private e-mail (rebeccabarry5@yahoo.co.jp
Your sister Mrs Rebecca Barry.
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