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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:
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: Angela Smith <harvey.lans@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2017 17:37:02 GMT
Subject: "Advantages Of helping The Poor"
Good day My Dear God's Chosen,
I beg you read this letter attentively as I have put my soul and my heart in it. I decided to write it to you as I hope there is something invisible but appear as a strong attraction from your profile.
I am Mrs.Josephine Philip (83 years old) from Australia. I am presently suffering from long time illness of Cancer. Someone may say I'm perfect while looking at me or my pictures. But it is more important for me to know that a person say more about my inner being, about my soul, individual characteristics. I need to feel someone shares with me and don't throw words into the air.
I have some funds I inherited from my late husband, The sum of (US$8.5 Million Dollars) and I needed a very honest and God fearing who can withdraw this money then use the funds for Charity works. I WISH TO GIVE THIS FUNDS TO YOU FOR CHARITY WORKS. I gone through your profile after honest prayers to the LORD to bring me a helper and i decided to contact you if you may be willing and interested to handle these trust funds in good faith before anything happens to me.
Life is so beautiful … but also it’s not eternal. It would be great to bestow love to the needy and orphans.I made this decision because I do not have any child who will inherit this money after I die. I want your urgent reply to me so that I will introduce you as my trustee for immediate transfer of the money to your account in your country, to start the good work of God. I want you to use the 40/percent of the total amount to help yourself with all the logistics in doing the project.
Thanks and God bless you,
Mrs. Josephine Philip
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Anti-fraud resources:
