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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Vicky Brand Sylvester <vickybrandsylvester@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Vicky Brand Sylvester <vickybrandsylvester@hotmail.fr>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 04:47:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dearly Devoted One,
Dearly Devoted One,
I am Mrs Vicky Brand sylvester an ageing widow suffering from long time
illness. i am currently admitted in a private hospital in south africa
here and my doctor here let me knowing that they will be directing me
to CHU de Treichville general hospital in (abidjan Côte d'Ivoire )
there they have a good and biggest specials on the sickness,
Â
I want to let you know that i have some funds I inherited from my late
loving husband Dr Brand sylvester the sum of EUROS €5.16 000 which he
deposited in Security Bank and I need a very honest and God fearing
Honorable person like YOU 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 Directors site and
decide to contact you please i want this fund to be out from that
suspend account before they Election next month. Please if you would be
able to use these funds for the Lord's work kindly reply me.
Â
Your Sister In The Lord.
Mrs Vicky Brand sylvester
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Anti-fraud resources:
