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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:
- "misslisabernard@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms Mary Bernard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msmary.bernard@live.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:32:58 -0700
Subject: Pls contact my daughter
Dear,
I am writing from the hospital, therefore this mail is very urgent as you can
see that I am going home. I already put your name as my beneficiary but i do not know if you have been contacted yet and i also want to use this media to ask you if you will sincerely be able to help me before giving a go ahead because i was told by the doctor that I was poisoned and has
got my liver
damaged and can only live for some months.
I inherited some money ($18.5 Million) from my late father and I cannot think of
anybody trying to kill me apart from my step mother in order to inherit the
money.
I want you to know that i am in pains, and all I am worried about is my adopted
daughter Lisa, why because I do not want her to suffer if I do not survive this
present condition that is why I am seeking for your assistance for her safety
and well being, she is only 13 years. I promised to take good care of her and
make her become grate in life but the wicked people in this world my step
mother have poisoned me because of my inheritance so please you have to
sincerely help me.
I will be going in for the operation in few days so please pray for me for my
survival but on the other hand incase of anything all I need is your sincere
assistance I do not need any financial help from you because I have enough and
if money can save me I also have enough but life comes from the Most High God.
I want you to contact my daughter Lisa with this information below:
Name: Miss Lisa Bernard
Email:misslisabernard@live.com
Phone: 234-7081-548-655
This is the favor I need when you have gotten the money:-
(1) My beloved daughter Lisa should be given 50% I want you to take
Her along with you to your country and establish her
(2) Give 25% of the money to Charity Organizations and Churches on my
Name so that my soul may rest in peace.
If I don't hear from you within two days, I will look for another person.
May God bless you and use you to accomplish my wish.
Pray for me always
Ms Mary Bernard
Thank you Holy Father
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