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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:
- "lisabernard@1966.co.uk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Mary Bernard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marybernard01@cd2.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:24:04 +0100
Subject: Dear Beloved Please I Need Help?
I am writing from the hospital,therefore this mail is very urgent as you can see that I am going home. I was told by the doctor that I was poisoned and has
got my liver damaged and can only live for some months.I inherited the sum of ($15.5 Million) from my late father and I cannot think of anybody trying to
kill me apart from my step mother in order to inherit the money. I know you may have received such letters before but I beg you to handle this with all you
heart and you will never regret it.
I want you to know that i am in pains, and all I am worried about is my adopted daughter Lisa, why because I do not want her to suffer if I do not survive
this present condition that is why I am seeking for your assistance for her safety and well being, she is only 15 years. I promised to take good care of her
and make her become great in life but the wicked people in this world,My step mother have poisoned me because of my inheritance so please you have to
sincerely help me.
I will be going in for the operation in few days so please pray for me for my survival but on the other hand in case of anything all I need is your sincere
assistance and l need financial help from you because I do not have enough but life comes from the Most High God.
I want you to contact my daughter Lisa with this information below:
Name: Lisa Bernard
Email:lisabernard@1966.co.uk
This is the favor I need when you have gotten the money:-
(1) My beloved daughter Lisa should be given 30% I want you to take Her along with you to your country and establish her
(2) Give 20% of the money to Charity Organizations and Churches on my Name so that my soul may rest in peace.
If I don't hear from you within two days, I will look for another person.
May God bless you and use you to accomplish my wish.
Pray for me always
Mrs Mary Bernard
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