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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- 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.
- mrseijamntymki@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Eija =?iso-8859-1?b?TeRudHlt5Gtp?= <helpme00154@live.com>
Reply-To: mrseijamntymki@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:06:00 -0400
Subject: From: Mrs Eija =?iso-8859-1?b?TeRudHlt5Gtp?=
From: Mrs Eija Mäntymäki
I am the above named person from Finland. I am married to Mr Simon
Mäntymäki who worked with Finland Embassy for seven years before he
died .We were
married for years without a child. He died after a brief illness that
lasted for only two weeks. Before his death we were both born again
Christians.
Since his death I decided not to r e-marry or get a child outside my
Matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was
alive
he deposited the sum of (four Million seven hundred thousand United
State Dollars) as safe deposit with a vault house.
Presently, this money is still deposited as safe deposit with vault
house Recently; my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next
four months
due to cancer Problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke
sickness.Having known my condition I decided to donate this Fund to
church or better
still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am
going to instruct here into fund orphanages and widows propagating the
word of
God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made
us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit this Money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I
don't want my
husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the
reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I
know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of
the Lord. The
lord he will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I don't need any
telephone communication in this regard because of my health and
because of
the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want
them to know about this development.
With God all things are possible As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of the vault house I will also issue you a
letter of
authority that will prove you as the original- beneficiary of this
Fund. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.
Whoever that wants
to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be
prayerful all through your life.
Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church
or Christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that
you will
act accordingly as I stated herein Hoping to hearing from you. I have
set aside 10% for you and for your time and 5% for any expenses if
there is any then remaining
balance for the word of God.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Eija Mäntymäki
Email: mrseijamntymki@yahoo.com.hk
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