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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:
- "calvary greetings" (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.
- tin1williams@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Tina Williams <tinaw4@outlook.fr>
Reply-To: <tin1williams@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2014 21:36:02 +0100
Subject: Calvary Greetings,
Calvary Greetings,
I am Mrs Tina Williams from Solomon Ireland married to late Mr.Kabenka Swansea Williams from Ivory Coast, he wasassassinated by unknown and we have no child. He was a cocoa marchant and also deals with raw gold here in Ivory coast.
My purpose of writing you is because I was led by the spirit of God to offer you the fund which my late husband deposited in thebank before his death. I myself is seriously ill I’m approaching the last days of my life as my doctor made me to know.
I’m 65 year old and may not even need the money again for any thing that is why i want to offer this sum of $5.500.000United States Dollars /500 kg of gold worth)as a donation for the work of God and to help the Orphans and charity home.May the good Lord bless you for the work you are doing already and may he give you wisdom to continue it.
I await your response urgently through this email pls (tin1williams@yahoo.co.jp) for more details on how to receive this fund .
My warmest regards to your entire family.Thank you and God bless you.sincerely,Mrs Tina Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
