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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:
- "marvis_smith@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Marvis Smith" <obatango11@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: marvis_smith@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:54:00 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Dearest One
Dearest One
I am the above named person from benin. I am married to Mr James Smith who
worked with benin Embassy in canada for nine years before he died in the
year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after
a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we were both born again christians.Since the death of my
husband I decided not to re-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 (Fifteen Million U.S.Dollars) in a Finance company .
Presently, this money still with the Finance company and the management
just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward or rather issue a letter
of authorisation to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I can not come
over.
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing
treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk
and my doctors have told me that I have only a few weeks to live.
It is my last wish to see this money transfered to you and be as a
guardian to this fund . Because relatives and friends have plundered so
much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of
entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them. Please,I beg you in
the name of God to assist me bring this money out from the bank and
transfer it to your country and arrange so that I can come over to your
Country for more medical attention .
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
company . I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you
as the new beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for me
because the lord is my shephard.
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. If you are willing to assist me
forward the following:
1. Your Full Contact address
2. Telephone Number.
Any delay in your reply will give me the room in sourcing for another
person for this same purpose.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ .
Mrs Marvis Smith
Reply Me Here: marvis_smith@ymail.com
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