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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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.
- 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.
- rev.johnamoah2010@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. John Amoah" <mariammed2007@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: rev.johnamoah2010@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 15:29:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Good Friend,
Dear Good Friend,
How are you? I believe you are doing great. Am Reverend Father John
Amoah a Minister of God from Ghana, occasionally I pay visit to most
hospitals here in Ghana most often, yesterday I was at the General
Hospital here in Ghana and I pay a visit to the Woman's Ward where I
met with Mrs. Mary Johnson a red Indian old woman who married to one
(late) Gen. Kofi Johnson a Ghanaian Man who died so many years ago.
Mrs. Mary Johnson is severely sick of the cancer of the lungs &
kidney and the Doctor who is attending to her pronounced that she has
only 2weeks to live and that is confirmed, Mrs. Johnson was childless
and due to the fact that her late husband was killed by Ghana
Politicians she had so much hatred for Ghana government so She do not
want to leave behind a cent belonging to her or her late husband in
Ghana before she die. during our discussion at the hospital yesterday
Mrs. Mary Johnson pleaded with me to help her get any faithful &
honest person who can help her express her warmth love & affection
for less-privileged, motherless-babies & handicaps
in the World .(Excluding Ghana people).
She & her husband own huge amount of money and some gold dust in
the security company here in Ghana and would be willing to entrust the
ownership of the funds unto the care & control of anyone who would
help her achieve her life aim & desire before or after she is dead.
Let me know if you are interested with my private email address below and I shall go ahead to inform the old dying woman.
I will be waiting for your reply.
Thanks & God bless you.
Reverend Fr. John Amoah
rev.johnamoah2010@gmail.com
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