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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- petern50@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: lily@josesmexicanfood.com
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 06:14:45 -0500
Subject: Reply quick
Mail For You.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; I am Mrs. Nancy Peters an
ageing widow suffering from longtime illness and Recently, My Doctor told
me that I would not last for the next six months due to my cancer problem
(cancer of the liver and stroke).
I am currently admitted in a private hospital here in Cotonou the capital
city of Benin Republic in West Africa. I have some funds I inherited from
my late loving husband Late Mr. George Peters, the sum of US$8.500, 000.00
which he deposited in a BANK here and I need a very honest and God fearing
person that can use this funds for God's work and 15% out of the total
funds will be for your compensation for doing this work of God. I found
your email address from the internet and decided to contact you.
Please if you would be able to use these funds for the Lord's work kindly
reply me as any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another
person for this same purpose, Hoping to read from you as soon as possible.
I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my
upcoming Cancer Surgery. Do reply me at: petern50@hotmail.fr
Yours,
Mrs. Nancy Peters.
E-mail: petern50@hotmail.fr
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Anti-fraud resources: