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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 pounds" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "mrslouiselisa@mail.kz" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Louise Lisa Alexander" <mrs.louiselisa@mail.com>
Reply-To: mrslouiselisa@mail.kz
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:52:13 -0600
Subject:
Dear Beloved in Christ,
I am Mrs. Louise Lisa Alexander, the wife of Mr. Robert Alexander; both
of us are citizens of the united state of America. My husband worked
with the Chevron/Texaco in Hong Kong for twenty years before he died .We
were married for ten years without a child. My Husband died after a
brief illness that lasted for only four days. Presently, I'm in a
hospital in Hong Kong where I have been undergoing treatment for throat
cancer i have since lost my ability to talk.
I have a charitable offer the sum of 7.5 Million Pounds. I want a person
that is God-fearing who will use this money to fund churches, orphanages
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 given. Please my beloved for further communication on how we are
going to conclude this. Email ( mrslouiselisa@mail.kz )
Your Sister in Christ,
Mrs. Louise Lisa Alexander.
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Anti-fraud resources:
