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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Linda Matthews <artcare.uk2@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:01:41 +0100
Subject: From Mrs Linda Mathews
Demak Laut street,
93050 Kuching,Sarawak
Malaysia.
Dear Friend,
l urge you to read this mail with patience and respond.l really appreciate
your concern.
My late husband Late Daniel Mathews worked with an Oil servicing Company
until his death in iraq after a Bomb Blast.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 $5.3Million (Five Million,three hundred
thousand U.S.Dollars) with a bank in Malaysia.
Recently, l was diagnosed with Cancer and my Doctor told me that I would
not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. l cannot move out
of the hospital as the cancer Swelling is large on my abdomen. Having known
my condition I decided to use the money to buy a house and donate it to
Children Living in Orphanage Homes.
l was once an orphan before l was adopted by a malaysian family where l met
my late husband .l do not want the children living in the Orphanage Homes
to go through the molestation l went through while l was there for 28years
ago.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
these money USD$5.3M.I may not be able to speak with you on telephone
communication in this regard because of my health as the Doctor said lt may
cause some damages to my brain and cause early death.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in
Malaysia.I will instruct the bank to release the funds to you as the
Benefactor of the $5.3m.You can speak with the bank and make all necessary
Verifications for the claim.
Finally you take the value of your house and ensure you assist the Children
in Orphanage with the remaining funds.This is my Wish.l will require your
Full names,Personal Phone number and if possible your Residential address
to include in the mail l will send to the bank that will release funds to
you.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein then i
will give you ten percentage of the total funds for your kind assistance.
l will be expecting your response.
God Bless You for assisting.
Mrs.Linda Mathews
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