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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- mailtopetermillet@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Julia Raymond" <msjraymond@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mailtopetermillet@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:15:18 -0400
Subject: Dear Friend: MY DONATION TO YOU
Dear friend,
Warm greetings. I am very sorry to disturb your privacy without prior
notice. But it is because of the urgency and importance of the content of
my message for you.
I am Julia Raymond of Central London, United Kingdom. I am a cancer
patient who have been battling this ailment for 9yrs now. My late husband
and I have sort to have a child of our own while he was alive but we
didn't get lucky despite all efforts. I am 67yrs old and have no child or
next of kin to inherit the wealth bequeathed to me by dead husband.
The team of Chemotherapists and nurses who have been caring for me in this
hospital have told me that I have less than 7days to live. And I requested
that I be allowed send out my last email. Your country Ambassador was a
family friend and I asked him if he could give me a name and contact of
anyone who can handle a donation from me, he responded by providing your
name and email to me. I therefore have no doubts about your sincerity and
commitment towards doing a good job.
I will be donating a total sum of $45.8million to you. I have kept the
supporting legal documents with a lawyer with an instruction to bequeath
to you the total sum once you contact him.
Please as soon as you have received the $45.8million, take 40% out of it
and keep for yourself and make sure you assist your community or any
humanitarian organization with the balance of 60%. That is my last wish. I
learned cancer have killed so many people in your country. This is a weird
and unkind ailment.
Do not bother to reply this email because I might never has access to this
email account before I pass on to join my husband over. Quickly contact my
lawyer Mr Peter Millett and he will proceed to execute my will and
instructions as I wished.
His contact detail are below:
Name: Peter Millett
Email: mailtopetermillet@gmail.com
Phone: +442080401178
My soul and spirit shall have peace and be happy should you accept this
offer.
Thank you and God bless.
Your dying friend.
Julia Raymond.
The Princess Grace Hospital
42–52 Nottingham Place
London W1U 5NY
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Anti-fraud resources:
