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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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Edith Coleman" <missrosew57@gmail.com>
Reply-To: edithcolemamfamily2003@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:23:57 +0000
Subject: Donation From Mrs Edith Coleman
Donation From Mrs Edith Coleman
From: Mrs Edith Coleman
Dear,
I am the above named person From Kuwait. I am married to Mr. Lobi Coleman
who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died
in the year 2001. 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.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $5.Million (five
Million U.S. Dollars)in the security company here in Abidjan is still with
the security company. Recently, my Doctor told me that i have serious
sickness which is cancer problem.The one that disturbs me most is my stroke
sickness.
Having known my con dition I decided to donate this fund to a church or
individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct
herein. I wa nt a church that will use this fund for orphanages, widows,
propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is
maintained.
The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I
took this decision because I don have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don want my husband
efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don want a situation where this money
will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision.
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. 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 don need any telephone
communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my
husband relatives around me always. I don want them to know about this
development. With God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
security company here in Abidjan. I want you and the church to always pray
for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life
of a worthy Christian. Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him
in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
for moreinformations, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing
another church or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that
you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Edith Coleman
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