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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 us 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: MRS REGINA <mrsregina_maga@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrsreginaa2maga@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 06:50:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM MRS.REGINA MAGA.
FROM MRS.REGINA MAGA.
I am MRS REGINA MAGA from Benin and i'm married to DR.JOHN MAGA from
BENIN who worked as the head security officer with Benin Embassy in
MADRID.
For good nine years before the death of my hushand in the plane crash We
were married without a child. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get
a child outside my matrimonial home.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($6.5 Million) Six
Million five hundred thousand Us Dollars with bank here in Cotonou Republic of
Benin Africa
Recently, I was told by my Doctor to stop doing anything because of my
health due to the cancer problem i am suffering from. The bank where my late
husband deposited this fund contacted me as the next of kin to my late husband
and ask me to indicate if i am still existing because my late husband's fund has
stayed more than SIX years without servicing and base on that the fund might be
confiscated and transfer to the bank treassury if nobody comes for it. Having
known my condition I decided to look for a credible person to whom I will pass
the right of next of kin. If you accept to help,I will direct you to the bank
and request for the transfer of the fund to any account of your choice.
This is on the condition that you will take 40% of the fund for yourself,
while you will use the remaining 60% for the less previlege people like the
motherless Babies homes. This is in fulfilment of the last request of my late
husband: that a substantial part of the fund be used to carter for the less
previleged people specially in third world countries.
Furthermore,I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because
i dont want even the doctor who is taking care of me to know anything about this
development,So in your Final acceptance to do the work of GOD kindly sent to me
the following requirements stated below:
So that i will forward your informations to the bank as my new
beneficiary also a copy to my late husband lawyer who will help you legally for
the claim.
1)Your Full Name
2)Your Marital Status
3)Your
Occupation/Profession
4)Your Direct Telephone/Fax Numbers
5)Your Age
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.hoping to
receive your response immedaitely.
Thanks and Remain blessed.
I remain yours sincerely.
MRS REGINA MAGA.
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