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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 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Rose Williams <q2563f@live.fr>
Reply-To: <rose_william2335@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 08:51:43 +0000
Subject: May God bless you
GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU REPLY URGENTLY
May God bless you
Attn: Please ,
I
am the above named person from Angola. I am married to Mr. Lobi
Williams who worked with Angola embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years
before he died in the year 2010. We were married for eleven years
without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four
days. Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his
death .I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial
home which the Bible is against. I have Eigtheen million US Dollars with
one security company.My husband is dead. I want to donate this fund to
you for charitable work.
Reply me so that I can give you details.
my Doctor told methat I would not last for the next Eight months due to
cancer problem.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I
stated herein. Hopin Therefore if you are capable of running an
establishment and can maintain the high level of secrecy required in
this project, kindly respond with the following information for details
of the project.
1. Your! full names and address
2. Your private telephone and fax numbers
3. Your private email address
4. Age and profession to
receive your reply Remain blessed in the Lord. Yours in Christ,
Mrs Rose Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
