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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: ROSEK LAWSON LAWSON <roseklawson13@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2020 09:06:45 -0700
Subject: I DONATE THIS $10.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO YOU
My Dear,
My name is REV MRS ROSEK LAWSON, I have been doing God’s work for over
30yrs now, I AM ALSO THE FOUNDER OF GRACE LIFE MINISTRIES(CHURCH); I am a
dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/church.
I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago
immediately after the death of my husband who has left me everything he
worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some
weeks because of my health i decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,200 000
ten million two hundred thousand united state dollars to you for the good
work of humanity and also to help the motherless and less privilege and
also for the assistance of the widows.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.It is
very important you forward to me your informationYour full name
Contact address
Telephone numbers
your age
your occupation
to enable me issue you a letter of authorization to you which you will
forward to the bank so that the fund will be transfer to my your account as
soon as i hear from you i will give you the contact information of the bank
account officer, tell him that I have WILLED my $10.200 000.00 to you and I
have also notified him. I know I don't know you but I have been directed to
do this by God almighty.Thanks and God bless.
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter
until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will
jeopardize my last wish.
Please it is important you kindly contact me through this email.
From Rev Mrs. Rosek Lawson
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Anti-fraud resources:
