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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:
- "million 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS.GLADYS KAMI AND SON DAVID" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gladyskami4@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:05:34 +0530
Subject: God Bless You
FROM MRS.GLADYS KAMI AND SON DAVID,
My Dearest in Christ Jesus The Lord,
My name is MRS.GLADYS KAMI AND SON DAVID a nationality of Kuwait . I am married to late Mr. JAMES KAMI who worked with Kuwait embassy here in GHANA for nine years before he died in the year October 2008. We were married for twenty years with a child. My Husband died after an illness that lasted for four days May his Soul rest in perfect peace Amen.
BEFORE HIS DEATH WE WERE BOTH BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS. WHEN MY LATE HUSBAND WAS ALIVE HE DEPOSITED ELEVEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS IN ONE OF GOOD Finance House HERE IN GHANA PRESENTLY, MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT LAST FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS DUE TO MY CANCER PROBLEM.
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 IN. MORE ESPECIALLY EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN HAITI AND ALSO ANY ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE, THE POOR AND THE MOTHERLESS BABIES. I WANT A PERSON OR CHURCH THAT WILL USE THIS FUND TO CHURCHES, ORPHANAGES, RESEARCH CENTERS 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 decision because i have a child that will inherit the money but mu son can not handle thi work and that is why i decieded to use some part of this money for the work of God and live some for our son to have a better live if i an no more alive.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours Sister in Christ
MRS.GLADYS KAMI AND SON DAVID
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