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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:
- "ladywilliams@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "ladywilliams@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Williams Amanda" <info@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ladywilliams@admin.in.th
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:32:31 -0500
Subject: Please Respond
Lady Amanda Williams.
52 Oxford Street,
England.
E-mail:ladywilliams@admin.in.th
Here writes Lady Amanda Williams, suffering from cancerous ailment. I was
married to Sir Richard Williams an Englishman
who is dead. My husband was into private practice all his life before his
death. Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades
without child, My husband and I made a vow to uplift the down-trodden and
the less-privileged individuals as he had passion for persons who can not
help themselves due to physical disability or financial predicament.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of £20 Million which
were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market with
his bank here in UK. Presently, this money is still with the bank.
Recently,my doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from and the stroke in addition.With
this that has befallen my family and me I have decided to donate this fund
to you and want you to use this gift to fund the upkeep of uplift the
down-trodden and the less-privilege sine i have no child and my husband
relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not want my
husband's hard earned money to be misused.I shall give you the contact of
the bank in UK and a Letter of Authority that will empower you as the
original beneficiary. You can contact me through
my personal email address:ladywilliams@admin.in.th
Best Regards,
Lady Amanda Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
