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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.
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- doctormartinssteven@india.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Alima Sanwardu <alima.sanwradu@yandex.com>
Reply-To: Mrs Alima Sanwardu <mrsalimasanwardu11@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 22:27:01 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I authorised you to contact doctormartins for your inheritances
 Dear Sir/Madam?
How are you doing i hope all is well with you
before heading to the major point i will
first of all introduce myself to you my name
is Mrs Alima Sanwardu 46 years old 4rm liberia
i married an actor the either of song writer
called late mr omar jim listing to my
expression here i losed my familie's during
the time of liberia's civil war rebels
attacked our house and killed my husband
liquids my children unffortunately i ran away
to burkina faso where i projected my forst
company producing cements base in ouagadougou
capital of burkina faso.
I am just managing myself with my smooth
business the next thing sickness unexpectedly
arrived to hold me captive two years after the
war i got myself in a one radical sickness
called cancer disease God so kind a tight
friend of mine took me to the highest hospital
in burkina faso general hospital there i
apparently as of now beside what the doctor
negotiated out that i will be under going
surgery starting from next week to be honest
and positive to you i am not hundred percent
sure that i will survive it despise what am
passing through it's was extremely painfully
to me because my situation right now are not
minimize i dont think i can survive it.
Meanwhile kindly contact the doctor whom is
taking care of me in other to facilitate you
for your claim incase if i did not survive it
as via email address and telephone
number;(doctormartinssteven@india.com)(+226
68125905) i have been submitted all my
document to him anything concerning my right
also eventually ask him of my banks details
including my A.T.M card let your ears be
opened i have sum of (20,000 five hundred
millions of U.S dollars) in my bank account i
have already mandated him to consider you when
you appear to him he was awared that i have an
a foreigner partner whom will proclaim my
inheritances as the next of kin to me go ahead
and proceed as normally with him do not be
afraid of anything be proud with this claiming
ahead ahead i am the one that authorised you
okay.
Your favourite?
Mrs Alima Sanwardu.
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