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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:
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Karen Wright <karrenwright1911@gmail.com>
Reply-To: karenwright1911@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:31:31 +0000
Subject: Dearly Beloved
Dearly Beloved
I am Mrs. Karen Wright a widow suffering from serious lung and breast
cancer for the pass five years now. I inherited the sum of 5.5 Million
us dollars, through my late husband Mr. Parker Wright and I want to
give it out to Orphanages homes and Charity Organizations as a vow
which I and my late husband made before the lord. I found your email
address from the Human resources data base and decided to contact you.
However,I am writing this mail to you with trust and humanity, I
appeal to you to exercise a little patience to read through my letter,
I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important message which I
am sincerely writing with pains & tears and full of sorrow from my
heart.
This is the favour I need from you when you received the money under
your control.
(1) Give 70% of the money to Orphanage homes and Churches on my name
so that my soul may rest in peace
(2) The remaining 30% should be for you and others that you may wish to assist.
If i did not here from you in few days to come then i will be looking
for someone else. May God Almighty give you the wisdom & understanding
and a good heart to assist me for the benefit of suffering children to
accomplish my wishes if you can be sympathetic and delighted to do
this work, kindly reply me as soon as possible for more details,
Remain Blessed in the Lord
Yours sincerely Sister
Mrs Karen Wright
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