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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million us 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: LUCY EDWARD <lucy.edward@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: lucy_edward@terra.com
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 05:06:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dearest In Christ.
Dearest In Christ.
Greetings to you in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am Mrs. Lucy Edward, from Finland. I am married to Mr. Patrick Edward who worked with Finland embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2004.We were married for eleven 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 remarry or get a child out side my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited a trunk box that contains US$2.5 million US dollars in a security company here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Presently the trunk box is still in the security company
please i want you to bear in mind that the security company did not know the content of the trunk box because my late husband deposited it with there company as family valuables items i want you to keep it as a secret between both of us. Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem.
The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity organization that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in .
I want an organization that will use this fund for orphanages, schools, churches and widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that giveth". I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers.
I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly ways. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace". I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development.
With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security company here in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of the trunk box. I want you and the church to always pray for me because we must serve him in spirit and Truth.
Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply i will give me room in sourcing another church/organisation for this same purpose. Please promise me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Remain blessed in the Lord Take care.
Yours Sister in Christ
Mrs. Lucy Edward.
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