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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- kate_davids@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Kate Davids" <info@kate.com>
Reply-To: kate_davids@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:01:41 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Re"re
Dear Beloved,
Good day to you and your family, i am sorry to disturb you but i feel
deeply in my heart that you are that individual who can be of help to me
and help other people that are in need,
Please i want you to pray for me. For the sake of my health,
My name is Kate Davids. And i am a dying woman of 69 suffering from
cancer Ailments. And presently the Doctor has informed me that i has
limited days according to medical checkup.
I am Married to Mr.Nicholas Davids a Real Estate Broacher and Gold
Merchant But before the death of my husband we were married for
22 years without any child. So we both decide to Build an Orphanage home.
And to pick up and accommodate the children without parents.
When my late husband was alive he has a deposit money with the sum of
($10.8 million United state Dollars) with the Bank and he intend to use
this money for charity and orphanage establishment. But now i has limited
days to live According to the Doctor just because of my cancer problem.And
i know i will surely pass on someday because i have no assurance of health
and life anymore,
I want you to help me claim this money from the bank And use it for charity
Establishment and orphanage purpose,
And the orphanage home must be named Nicholas Davids orphanage
home.Because I want this to be a mark of remembrance to my last wish and
late husband wish.
If you know you are ready to be faithful to help me do this charity wok.
Then kindly get back to me. Through My Private Email :
kate_davids@hotmail.com And Send the Following Information's to me for
further details.
(1)Names:
(2)Nationality:
(3)Country Of Resident:
(4)Age:
(5)Sex:
(6)Marital Status:
(7)Occupation:
(8)Your Home Address:
(9)Office Address:
Thanks And Be Bless
Yours Faithfully
Mrs. Kate Davids
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