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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:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Marilyn Francis <marilynfrancis@in.com>
Reply-To: marilynfrancis2@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:13:59 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HELLO
Beloved One
How are you and people around you?
Be you Blessed. I am Ms. Marilyn Francis Daniel, a 35yrs old widow to late Mr.Francis
Daniel from United States of America . I am now a believer, suffering from long time
cancer of the breast and throat from all indication my conditions is really
deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I might not live up to 3 months, according
to my doctors.
This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband died
last few years, and during the period of our marriage we could not produce any child.
My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business
and wealth; Based on the doctors reports that I might not live up to three months. My
late husband family intentions to allow me die in this condition because I do not
have a child, that what pushed me to source for a Godly person who will make this
claim of the funds which he deposited in one of the storage companies.
I’ll give you all the information you will need to make this claim of the deposit
once I receive a positive response from you and also your assurances that you will
not betray this confidence that I am reposing in you.
I am hoping on this because my family are unbelievers and I’ll not allow them inherit
this hard-earned fortune for their own selfishness.
Please forward to me your full contact information in order for me to give a power of
attorney for you to contact the storage company on my behalf for the claim of the
charity funds.
Your full name………………………………
Full Address………………………………………
Country………………………………………
Age………………………………………………………………
Marital status…………………………………………………
Occupation…………………………………………………
Thanks and remain blessed
Your sister
Ms. Marilyn Francis Daniel
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