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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- fridous08095kone@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: fridous kone <lilian_philips@davidark.net>
Reply-To: fridous08095kone@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:45:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Mrs. Fridous
Brethren
>From Mrs. Fridous Kone.
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
I am the above named person 61years old woman from Cote D'Ivoire. I am married to Mr Joseph Kone; we were married for Thirteen (13) years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $10,600,000 (Million U.S Dollars) with the Bank here. My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my partial stroke. Having known my condition I decided to donate this funds to church or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a church or individual that will use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.
The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that grivet. I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives are not believers and I don’t want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by Unbelievers. I don’t want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner; hence the reasons for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bossom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I will want you to give me your
Name:...........................
Address:........................
Sex/age:........................
Phone:..........................
Occupation:.....................
Country.........................
I will send a copy to the bank. For identification when you will contact them. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd and I shall not want. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Note, this must be kept confidentially from eyes and ears of my husband's family. Hoping to hear from you.
Reply me on my private E-mail I.D fridous08095kone@yahoo.co.jp and Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Regards,
Mrs. Fridous Kone.
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