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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Joy Armstrong <joyamstill@gmail.com>
Reply-To: joyamstill@foxmail.com
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:35:28 +0100 (BST)
Subject: This is Apostolic Work
Dear beloved,
My greetings, I am Mrs. Joy Armstrong a National of Ivory Coast, A widow suffering from long time illness called cancer. I am married to late Mr. Daniel Armstrong a national of France we both were leaving in Paris France before my husband died. We were married for 17 years without a child but still waiting upon the lord before my beloved husband`s death. Since after the death and burial of my husband I return back to my country Ivory Coast where I have been undergoing medical treatment for my illness.
Recently my doctor told me that I will not last for the next two months because of my illness, which has over dwell in me. Well I am not afraid of death because I know that I will make heaven. Now my reason for contacting you is that I have some funds I inherited from my late loving husband amount is €.5, 000, 000.00 {FIVE MILLION EUROS} which he deposited in fixed /suspense account in one of the prime Bank over there in Paris FRANCE. My dear I need an honest and God loving person who have the feelings of humanity that can use this funds for God's work as I am going to instruct in this mail below.
1: You will to take 30% of the money as compensation for all your effort to do my wish below.
2: You will use this fund in a charity/orphanage homes.
3: You will use this fund to build a catholic church Or Anglican church which you will write the name as ST` JOY CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Kindly reply me if you can do my wish so I can give you more details on how best the fund will be transfer to you.
Your Sister faithfully
Joy Armstrong.
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