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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.Sly Brown." <smlyys@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Sly Brown." <sly.brown@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:00:48 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From Mrs.Sly Brown Read.
Dearest in the Lord,
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF
GOD.
I am Mrs. Sly Brown from Sylphs . I am married to Mr.
Hurtbert Brown who worked with Sylphs embassy in cote d'ivoire for Twenty years
before he died in the year 2004.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
Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my
matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of (2.3.Million U.S. Dollars) in a fixed suspense account
with one of the Bank here in Cote D Ivorie.Presently, this money is still with
the Bank so I want you to take quick step to this transfer process with the bank
to transfer the money to you because, my
Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer
problem. Through what disturbs me most is my stroke I Having known my condition
I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a Christian individual
that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in.
I want a church that will use this 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 giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that
will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't
want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want
a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. 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 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'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. With God
all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the
contact of the Bank here in IVORY COAST ABIDJAN.
Hoping to hearing from you
Remain blessed in the name of the Lord,
Yours in Christ.
Mrs. Sly Brown.
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