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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:
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "mrs.elizabethsisca@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Elizabeth Rina Sisca <test@shyouth.net>
Reply-To: <mrs.elizabethsisca@live.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 14:51:57 +0000
Subject: READ YOUR MAIL
Propagating the word of God through partnership.
I am Mrs Elizabeth Sisca Sukariyati from Indonesia. I am married to
Late Mr. Mustafa Sukariyati of blessed memory who is an oil
explorer in Libya and Kuwait for twelve years before he died in the
year 2000. We were married for twelve years without a child. He
died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Since
his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and fibroid
problems. When my late Husband was alive he deposited a substantial
amount of money in millions of dollars with a Bank of Ghana.
Recently, my doctor told me that I have only six months to live due
to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke
sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund
to either a charity/orphanage home or devoted God fearing
individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein. I want this organization or individual to use this
money in all sincerity to fund charity homes (motherless homes),
orphanages, widows. I took this decision because I don't have any
child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are
into radical organization and I don't want a situation where this
money will be used in an Unholy manner. Hence the reasons for this
bold decision. Please, pray for me to recover, as your prayers will
go a long way in uplifting my spirit.Go ahead and reply me on my
email:mrs.elizabethsisca@live.com
I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of
my health, because of the presence of my husband's relatives around
me always. I don't want them to know about this development. As
soon as I receive your reply. I shall give you further directives
on what to do and how to go about actualizing this project. I will
also issue a letter of authority to the Bank of Ghana authorizing
them that the said fund Have being willed to you and a copy of such
authorization will be forwarded to you. I want you to always pray
for me. Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for an
organization or a devoted Individual for this same purpose. Until I
hear from you by email; my dreams will rest squarely on your
shoulders.
Remain blessed.
Mrs Elizabeth Sisca Sukariyati
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