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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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.
- tina_williamsn@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WILLIAMS TINA <williams.tina@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: tina_williams1n@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 04:58:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re:Reply Urgently
From Mrs.Tina K.Williams.
Personal email address:( tina_williamsn@yahoo.fr)
Dear Good Friend.
I am Mrs Tina Williams from Solomon Islands. I am married to Mr. Lobi Williams who worked with our Embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2001. 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 Christian. Since his death
I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $5. Million into a trunk box with a Security Company here in Cote D'lvoire. Presently this money is still in the custody of the Security Company here in Cote D lvoire which he did not disclose the contents as money rather family valuables that belongs to his foreign business partner for security reasons.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church,organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.
I want a church,organization or good person that will use this fund
for orphanages, widows and other peoples that needs help and also 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".
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this fund and my husband relatives are not Christians not even good at all because they are the one that responsible for the death of my husband in other to have
all my late husband prperties and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by those that conspired for his death.
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 and l know that 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 Cote d' lvoire. I will also issue a letter of authorization to the Security Company that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I also want you, church or the organization to always pray for me because the lord is my only shephard.
Contact me immedaitely through my alternative email address:( tina_williamsn@yahoo.fr). You can send me your real alternative email address also.
Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.
l remain yours sister in Christ.
Mrs. Tina Williams
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