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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Gamila Botros" <amilabotros002@vip.citiz.net>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Gamila Botros" <folademutota01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:36:40 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Hospital message
Greetings
In function of your good profile i want to solicit your assistance in the fulfillment of my desire. i am Mrs. Gamila Botros 68years, widow from Kuwait currently admitted in a private hospital in Ivory coast, my husband and i have worked with Tullow oil Ivory Coast, and he died eight years ago. I am writing you this message via a laptop on my sick bed by means of using a nurse staff who worked at the hospital as it's impossible for me to type on the keyboard. I had be suffering from endometrial cancer for many years now, unfortunately my doctor has told me that I do not have a chance to survive and I have spent a lot of money on medical treatment still no improvement. please I want you the stand as beneficiary to the sum of three million five hundred thousand United States dollars and my little orphan child i have making plans to adopt before my illness become worst. I have no biological child of my own who will inherit this money and my relatives have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness and i cannot live with the agony of entrust this enormous responsibility with respect to anyone of them. This money is for up bring of my little orphan child and charitable donation. it is the only legacy that I can leave behind after my death, help me to accomplish this goal before I die and don't forget to pray for Me. I have decided to contact you. Please if you would be able to use these funds as regards to my proposal Kindly Answer me as soon as possible, for more details.
Your sister in the Lord.
Mrs. Gamila Botros
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