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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: MRS GRACE MANDA <mrsgracemanda1963@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsmanda.grace@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 05:14:36 +0900
Subject: IMPORTANT.
>From Mrs. Grace Manda
Formal Worker in South Africa
Gold Panning Association.
My Dearest in Christ,
My name is Mrs. Grace Manda from south Africa. I worked with South Africa gold panning association. You can view the profile of South Africa gold panning association at (http://www.sagoldpanning.co.za/history.htm) and read about us. Married to late Mr. Bongani Manda for twenty years with a child. He died after an illness that lasted for four weeks.
Please I know this may come to you by surprise because you did not know me. I need your assistance that is why I write you through this divine direction. It is my desire to go into this business relationship with you.
Before my husband died, we were both born again Christians. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of USD$30.5M (Thirty Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) with a Bank. The fund emanated as a result of an over-invoiced contract which he executed with the South Africa gold panning association. Though I assisted him in getting this contract but I never knew that it was over-invoiced by him. I am afraid that the government of South Africa might start to investigate the contracts awarded from South Africa gold panning association.
Recently my doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to my cancer problem, though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I have decided to donate this fund to church or better still a Christian individual who will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a person or church that will use this fund for orphanage homes, motherless homes, church activities thereby 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 though I have a child who will inherit this money but my son can not carry out this work they way I want because I and my late husband agreed to use some of the money to work for God and leave some for our son to have a better live when he grow to a full man. Our son is just 17 years old and having lived here in Africa all his life, he has low maturity. I am not afraid of death hence I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I will like you to understand that my contact to you is a divine direction from God; As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the new beneficiary of this fund. My happiness is that I live a life of a worthy Christian. 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 here and Please I will like you to contact me immediately you receive this email so that I will instruct the bank to transfer this fund into your account.
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord. God?s grace is sufficient for me.
Mrs. Grace Manda.
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