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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- 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.
- mrsjanetnathan15@yahoo.com.ph
Fraud email example:
From: "mrsjanet1000@cantv.net" <mrsjanet1000@cantv.net>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 08:46:51 -0430
Subject: From Mrs. Janet Nathan
Hello Dear,
My name is Mrs. Janet Nathan, I am sorry the
way these
email came to you but I hope you will understand that it’s out of
circumstances that I have contact you after going through your
profile. I am the wife of Late Mr Godfrey Nathan who was the former
Philippines director of mineral resources who was assassinated along side
with our son in 2007 in connection with government of Philippines due to
greed and jealousy of his wealth.
I am writing you due to what i have
suffered here by my late husband’s first wife and her children in
connection with the government because the first wife is a relation to the
president of Philippines. This is because my late husband willed 70% of his
assets to me and my daughter which have been forcefully taken away from me
by the first wife and her children with the connections of her sister who
is in the presidency.
In one of the envelop I received from my late
husband’s lawyer, I saw a deposited documents for a security company
abroad with a later which explained to me that my late husband deposited a
trunk box in a security company which the box contains diamonds worth $32M
USD and cash of $12M USD.
I am contacting you because I want you to help
me in securing the money and help me leave Philippines since the first wife
of my late husband through the government now monitor all my movement and
also which right now I am leaving in absolute hardship because they
stripped me off all my late husband’s assets and left me with nothing. I
hope to trust you as you will not sit on this money when you claim it. I am
ready to give you 35% of the total money and also 35% of the diamonds for
your assistance. If you are willing to help me,
God Bless you as you
help,
Mrs Janet Nathan
PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL AT
mrsjanetnathan15@yahoo.com.ph
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