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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: pearson gloria <gloriapearson88@yahoo.pt>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 15:10:01 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU
My Dear,
My Name is Mrs Gloria Pearson, I have been doing God's work for over
30yrs now,I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF GRACE LIFE MINISTRIES (CHURCH). I am a
dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/church. I am 59
years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago immediately
after the death of my husband who has left me everything he worked for and
because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks because
of my health I decided to WILL/donate the sum of US$18.5M to you for the
good work of humanity and also to help the motherless and less privilege
and also for the assistance of the widows.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. It is
ver important you forward to me your information
A ) Your full name :
B ) Contact addres :
C ) Telephone numbers :
D ) Your age :
E ) Your occupation :
To enable me issue you a LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION to you which you will
forward to the bank so that the fund will be transfer to your account as
soon as i hear from you i will give you the contact information of the
bank account officer,tell him that I have WILLED my us$18.5M to you and I
have also notified him.
I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this by God
almighty.Thanks and God bless
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished as i don't want anything that will jeopardize my last
wish.
Regards,
Mrs Gloria Pearson
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Anti-fraud resources:
