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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "d_hilda@cantv.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Hilda Davis" <davisohilda@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: d_hilda@cantv.net
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:42:26 +0300 (MSK)
Subject: From Hilda Davis
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>From Hilda Davis
My name is Mrs hilda davis from Australia i am married to Dr.davis who
worked with our Embassy in cote d ivoire for a period of 8 years before he
died . We were married for 13years without a child before he died he
deposited the sum of US$9.5m(Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United
State dollars with a Bank in cote d ivoire.in the custody of the Bank in
cote d ivoire. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the
next Four months due to cancer sickness. I decided to donate this money to
churchs, organisation widows motherless and other people that are in need
before i contacted you i pray over it As soon as I receive your reply I
will give you the contact of the Bank where this money was deposited Any
delay in your reply may give me run to look for another good person that
will used this money accodinto my direction.be noted that this transation
will cost you a little money to get the changing of ownership certificate
of the fund to your name,30% of the total money will go for you and your
family including the espensese you will mede while the rest of 70% will go
for the churchs, Charity organisation widows and other people are in
need.i am waiting to hear from you. update me back at (d_hilda@cantv.net)
Thanks and Remain blessed
Yours sister in the Lord
Mrs hilda davis
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