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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:
- 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: mary mark <marymarkjoel@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:41:28 +0100
Subject: Urgent
Dearest in Christ,
I am Mrs Maryjen Joel from Kuwait . I am married to Joel Mark who worked
with Kuwait embassy for nine years before he died in the year 2012.We were
married for 28 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
Four Million Five Hundred and fifty thousand Pounds Sterling (£4,550.000.00
GBP) in a Security Company.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months
due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this
fund to a church that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein. I want 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 given". 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 efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't 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't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my
health hence the presence of my husband's relatives are 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 Security Company in Abidjan. I will also issue
you an authorization letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of
this fund.
I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my
shepherd. 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.Contact me on my email any
delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church 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 Sister In Christ
Mrs Maryjen Joel
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