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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 united states 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Süheyla ÖKSÜZ <mrsjanet.karoline123@outlook.com>
Reply-To: mrsjanet.karoline@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:18:28 +0200
Subject: Greeting
--
Greeting
My name is Mrs.Janet Karoline Adams I am 69 years old, I am a dying
woman who have decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless
babies/less privileged/widows.I was diagnosed for cancer for about 7
years ago.
so recently my doctor diagnosed my health system again and i told me
that i don't have long time on earth. I have been touched by God to
donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good
work of God. I have asked God to forgive me and believe he has, because
he is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation soon.I decided
to WILL/donate the sum of 7.5 million United States dollars to you for
the good work of God, and also to help the motherless and less privilege
and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot take
any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives (That
have squandered the funds I gave them for this purpose before) are
around me and my health status also.
I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware. I wish you all the best
and may the good god bless you abundantly, and please use the Funds
judiciously and always extend the good work to others. As soon you get
back to me, I shall give you info on what I need from you then you will
contact my bank and tell them I have willed (3.5 million dollars) to you
by quoting my personal reference number: and I have also notified my
bank that I am willing that amount to you for a good, effective and
prudent work. I know I don't know you very well but I have been directed
to do this by God.
Thanks and god bless.
Janet Adams
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