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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:
- "dearest beloved one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mama Patricia Bamba <kevin_206morgan@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mama Patricia Bamba <mamabpatricia@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 18:17:27 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dearest beloved One,
Dearest beloved One,
It
is with a deep consideration I write you this letter of proposal to
you. My name is Mrs. Patricia Kevin Bamba,a nationality of Cote
D'Ivoire,(Ivory Coast) in West Africa but now undergoing medical
treatment here in London UK due to a blood cancer {LEUKEMIA}.
I
was married to Mr.Kevon Morgan Bamba who was a contractor with the
Government of Cote D'Ivoire and also an International Businessman before
he died after few days in the hospital following a heart attack. I
became worthless and helpless to my late husband's family after the
death of my husband and i was denied all my right as the First wife due
to not having any
child of my own and my my late husband's properties was shared within
themselves.
I have decided to transfer the sum of $8.7 million
dollars
that i inherited from my late husband when he was alive which he wanted
to invest in Real Estate in a foreign country with the help of his
foreign associate and in case none of my husband's family knows about
this deposit but i got this because i was the one keeping record of all
my late husband's documentations for safety.
I took this decision
because of my painful feelings and greedy attitude of my husband
relatives who has fight over his properties in a critical and ungodly
way.
This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this
Fund to help the poor. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am
going. I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of
my up coming Cancer Surgery.
God bless you and i am hoping to read from you soon.
Mrs. Patricia K Bamba.
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