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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Joy Komo" <joy_komo_00@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:27:12 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Dearest in the Lord,
Dearest in the Lord,
I am the above named person from South Africa. I am married to Paul Komo, who worked with South African embassy in Ghana for nine years before he died in the year 2011. We were married for eleven years without a child.
He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home because of the love i have for my late Husband.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 12.5Million U.S.(TWELVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED thousand Dollars) with one BANK in Ghana.Presently, this fund is still with the BANK. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next two years due to cancer problem.
This fund was deposited in the bank with my name as a nest of kin.
Though what disturbs me most is my stroke Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to charity or better still a trusted individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
I want that this fund to churches, orphanages and widows and to ensure a good living for them.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives maltreated me and were against our marriage and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused.
I don't want a situation where this money will be used in a way it will not benefit. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to rest in peace
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health because of the presence of my husband's relatives around me always.I don't want them to know about this development.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the BANK in Ghana
I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the original- beneficiary of this fund.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as i stated herein. Hoping to hearing from you as soon as you received this mail .
Remain blessed .
Yours
Sister Joy Komo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
