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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:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Marinarin Vivian Akoma <edithi0iochou@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Marinarin Vivian Akoma <marivivinakoma@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 01:00:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Greetings to you in the most wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Greetings to you in the most wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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I am Mrs Marinarin Vivian Akoma,I am married to Dr Johnston Akoma,I and my late husband was into Estate management and also a government building contractor before my husband death on June 25 2009 died on Car Accident. I’m 61 years old and I was diagnosed with cancer for four years ago and my doctor told me my life is in Danger. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband Dr Johnston Akoma to you for good work of God.
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I decided to WILL / donate the sum of five million five hundred thousand U.S.dollars (U.S. $5.500,000.00 ) to the good work of the lord, and also to help the Orphanage children’s and less privileged. I took this decision because I Calvary have any child that will inherit this money due to my fibroid problem and my husband relatives are not and I do not want my husband hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I do not want a situation where this money will be used in a ungodly way. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I'm going. I know 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. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Waiting to hear your favorable reply for more details.
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God bless you.
Mrs Marinarin Vivian Akoma
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Anti-fraud resources:
