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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (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: "Mrs. Lucy Williams" <mslucy@excite.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2015 19:14:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Calvary Greetings to you
Calvary Greetings to you
I am
Mrs Lucy Roland Williams 65years old. an ageing widow suffering from
long time illness as a result of Cancer. I am currently admitted in a
private hospital here in Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire, I have some funds I
inherited from my late loving husband. Mr. Roland Williams, the sum of
(3.2Million Euros) which he deposited in a Bank Here and I need a very
honest and God fearing Christian that can use this funds for God's work
and serve as a helper to the less privilliage and widows over there in
your country. The reason why is that we have no Child to inherite the
Funds and my medical doctor told me the only way to survive is to go
under surgery which has to do with life and death. So i need someone who
i can introduce to the Bank as my next of kin/beneficary to the Funds
before i travel abroad for my medical surgery.
Please if you would be able to use these funds for the Lord's work kindly reply me as soon as possible for more details.
Your Sister In The Lord.
Mrs Lucy Williams.
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