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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Monica Pfeiffer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bhagwansgh@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 23:24:07 -0700
Subject: Kind Assistance!
I am Mrs.Monica Pfeiffer from Germany. I am
suffering from long time brain Cancer. I'm married but
without Any children. My late husband was a foreign
contractor for thirty Years before he died.
I am presently in a hospital where I
have been undergoing treatment, from all indication my
condition is really deterioration and it is quite obvious
that i won't live more than 2 months according to my doctor,
this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad
stage
My late husband executed Contract
Supply of laboratory and meteorology equipment to the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Accra, Ghana. The
contract value is US$10.6million which the Ghana Government
has
approved for Payment.
I have been officially notified by the
paying bank with letter of authorization to forward
particulars of my late husband next of kin so that the money
can be remitted into his/her Bank Account.
I want a person that is trustworthy
that will utilize 90% of this money to fund churches,
orphanages and widows around the world but in my name Monica
Pfeiffer". As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you
the contact of the bank.I will also issue you a letter of
authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this
fund.
Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein and Keep this contact
confidential till such a time this funds get to your
Custody,this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last
wish on Earth.
Thanks and God bless you
I await your urgent reply.
Mrs.Monica Pfeiffer
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Anti-fraud resources:
