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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: angela bishop <angela_2494@msn.com>
Reply-To: <a.bishop59@yahoo.in>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:09:43 +0000
Subject: SUBJECT: ADEQUATE CARE OF MY DAUGHTER
FROM: Mrs. Angela Bishop.
My name is Mrs. Angela Bah Bishop! I married to my lovely husband Dr. Michael Philippe who before his death was a wealthy cocoa Merchant / Textile dealer here in Cote d’Ivoire.
We were married for over 30 years without a child. Before the death of my husband we were both born again Christians. My lovely Husband left the Total sum of (US$10.500.000) USD in one of the Ivory Coast Financial Company.
Recently, I understand from my medical reports that I may not be opportune to live long due to cancer problem. I have questioned my doctor several ways to let me know the consequences of my medical result, but he refused. But my spirit and mind tells me that. The one that disturbs me most is my blood pressure sickness.
Having known my condition I decided to seek for your kind assistance to transfer this fund to you and you will use it to take proper care of my adopted daughter who is only 18years now.
You will take her as your God child and brought her up in a good and decent manner with what my late husband left behind. I took this decision to contact you because of my condition and my inheritance. Please indicate your interest and willingness in this proposal by writing back to me through the above email address. I want your maximum cooperation and keep this as confidential for security reasons.
I am sincerely waiting for your kind and urgent response as soon as you receive this mail.
Mrs. Angela Bishop
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Anti-fraud resources:
