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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:
- "i will like you to " (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: "Mrs. Tan Ruby" <wiliamsjames731@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrstanruby@qq.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2015 01:02:48 +0100
Subject: My name is Mrs. Tan Ruby
>From Mrs. Tan Ruby.
Based on your good profile i want to solicit for your help in
fulfilling my wish, I am Mrs. Tan Ruby. 58 years old widow from
Singapore, i have been in Africa since fifteen years ago as a business
woman dealing with cotton exportation, i am writing you this message
via a computer lap top on my sick bed at the hospital were i am
undergoing medical treatment i have been diagnosed of ovarian cancer
disease unfortunately for me my doctor said i don't have any chance to
survive except by a miracle i have spent a lot of money on medical
treatment yet no improvement.
The reason i am writing you this letter is because i want you to stand
as beneficiary to the sum of my $ 4.7 Million i don’t have any
biological child of my own who will inherit this money neither do i
have any adopted child My relatives and friends have plundered so much
of my wealth since my illness and i cannot live with the agony of
entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them anymore.
I want to donate this money to support churches and evangelism i also
want to help children and orphanages in your country Donating this $
4.7 Million dollars as charity is the only legacy i can leave behind
after my death, help me to fulfill this goal before i die and please
always remember to pray for me when i die my soul will rest in peace.
so if you are willing to help me receive this money please i will like
you to contact me today.
Hoping that all will be well in near future
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tan Ruby.
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