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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:
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- mrsrosekallons2009@maktoob.com
Fraud email example:
From: "REV MRS ROSE KALLONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsrosekallons2009@maktoob.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 00:42:00 -0800
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
My name is REV MRS ROSEK KALLONS, i have been doing God'S
work for over 30yrs now,I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF GRACE LIFE
MINISTRIES (CHURCH); I am a dying woman who has decided to
donate what I have to you/church.
I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2
years ago immediately after the death of my husband who has
left me everything he worked for and because the doctors
told me I will not live longer than some weeks because of my
health i decided to WILL/donate the sum of $4 000 000 four
million dollars to you for the good work of humanity and
also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for
the assistance of the widows.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you
abundantly and please use the funds well and always extend
the good work to others.
it is very important you forward to me your information
your full name
contact addres
telephone numbers
your age
your occupation
to enable me issue you a LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION to you
which you will forward to the bank so that the fund will be
transfer to my your account as soon as i hear from you i
will give you the contact information of the bank account
officer,tell him that I have WILLED my $4 000 000.00 to you
and I have also notified him. I know I don't know you but I
have been directed to do this by God almight.
Thanks and God bless
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this
matter until the task is accomplished as i don't want
anything that will jeopardize my last wish.
kindly contact me through my alternative email
mrsrosekallons2009@maktoob.com
From Rev Mrs.Rose kallons
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