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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "time is not on my side" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "keep this confidential" (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 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.
- davidclifford1_001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: David Clifford <davidclifford4_001@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:07:50 +0000
Subject: URGENT
Hello my friend,
It's me David Clifford.This letter was intended for an old friend of mine I met in Netherland.I am almost certain that I have the email address wrong as it has been long we crossed part,so am very certain I am writing a total stranger with similar email address and my hope is that you be a person of integrity.I am in a very critical and emergency situation right now and it has compelled me to write you after seeing your email address as I was sourcing international business directory online for the contact details of an old friend which so far is to no avail.What I propose is of great interest to you and many of the less privileged if I can rely on your integrity.
I have retired from business dealings for over 6 years now since I was diagnosed with this terminal disease.
My wife and her boy friend are scheming with my lawyer to loot me.She already has another younger man she is dating and yet the court has granted her management of our funds and property due to the radical financial charity distribution I made recently to charity foundations in Europe.They have been able to convince the court that I am mentally incapable of managing my bank accounts so I would stop giving out money to charity and now due to the reason of my illness she has been put incharge of our finance.
I still have some money secured outside my bank,which she does not know about and am glad lately that I didn't tell her of it and neither did I mention it in my court deposition. I want to donate this money for CHARITY.I have no other worthy person around me to trust with the management of the funds for charity work as I desire and I was hoping if it would be possible for me to trust you with this funds for donation to Orphanage homes in your city.I live with my wife and wouldn't want my wife or lawyer to know about the fund and my giving it out,otherwise they would stop me from doing so.I am dying and according to my test results I have 2 months or less to live.
I need your urgent reply so that I will not have to go on sourcing for a credible person to handle this project as time is not on my side and I have no close family relation except my in-laws but they are all thieves like my wife.Nobody around me knows of this fund and I do not want the word to get to them or I will lose it to the care of my wife as the court has concluded that am incapable of managing my finances due to my health condition.I will advise that you also keep this confidential and strictly between you and me.
I am taking every precaution to ensure this information is not leaked to the knowledge of my wife. For this reason i will request that you send me your reply to my alternative email address davidclifford1_001@yahoo.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
David
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