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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- mrsshahadomar@iname.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Shahad Omar" <qays@alessam.com>
Reply-To: MrsShahadOmar@iname.com
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 09:22:27 -0500
Subject: My Beloved
Assalam Alaikum..My Beloved
I am Mrs. Shahad Omar a citizen of Kuwait but currently residing in the United Kingdom. I was married to Late Farooq Omar of blessed memory who was an oil explorer in
Kuwait and Angola for twelve years before he died in the year 2012. We were married for twelve years without a child; he died after a brief illness that lasted for
only four days. Since his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and fibroid problems. When my late Husband was alive he deposited a substantial amount of
money worth US$8.5Million with a bank in the United Kingdom which I inherited after his death.
Recently, my doctor told me that I have only 2 month to live due to my ailment. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to either a charity/orphanage
home or devoted Allah (God) fearing individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct therein. I want this organization or individual to use this
money in all sincerity to fund charity homes (motherless homes), orphanages, and widows. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money and my husbands relatives are into radical organization and I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner, hence the reasons for
this bold decision. Please, pray for me to recover as your prayers will go a long way in uplifting my spirit.
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health condition which has seriously affected my speech and also because of the presence of my
husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you further directives on what to
do and how to go about actualizing this project. I will also instruct my lawyer to file an application on your behalf to the bank where the funds were deposited for
the transfer of the money to you for this purpose. I want you to always pray for me. Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for an organization or a
devoted Individual for this same purpose.
Until I hear from you by email please here is my private email you can reply me with : (MrsShahadOmar@iname.com) my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders.
Remain blessed,
Mrs. Shahad Omar.
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