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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:
Fraud email example:
From: mellisa <mrsmellisa2002@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:20:52 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I greet you in the name of almighty God.
I greet you in the name of almighty
God.
I am Mrs. Mellisa Coleman from
Solomon Islands. I am married to Mr. Stephenie Coleman, who worked with our
Embassy in TOGO for nine years before he died on the 15th August 2008. We were
married for eleven years without a child.
He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Ever before his death we were both born again Christians and have sown into
many ministries. Since his death I decided not to remarry, but feeling quite
lonely if not the Lord who has been my partner and comforter.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of$12.5 Million with a Bank
in TOGO. Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Five months due to
cancer problem.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church,
organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein,
Yours
Mellisa Coleman.
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Anti-fraud resources:
