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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:
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: Mrs M. Elena Fernandez <farnand.azelen@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: fernand.ezelen@yahoo.cn
Date: Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:58:10 +0200
Subject: Mrs M. Elena Fernandez
Mrs Maria Elena Fernandez Dearest in Christ, I know that this mail
may reach you by surprise. As we don't know ourselves previously .I am
the above name person. I am married to (Mr.Edward Rodolfo Fernandez)
from Cote D'Ivoire who work with Ambassador of Philippine for
nineteen years here in Cote D'Ivoire. We were married for fifteen
years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for
only two weeks. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a
child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. but When
my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of $7.3Musd (Seven
Million Three Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) with Bank in Abidjan Cote
D'Ivoire in my husband country. Meanwhile, i have not tell anybody
about this money. I am telling you about it reason that i want you to
assist me use the fund for the work of GOD. Even due you are not a
Christian. that is not a problem to me what i want is for you to use
it and help the helpless people around you
to help the orphanages,
widows, and motherless children. The Political Situation in My Country
is Very Bad and Many People Are Been Killed on Daily Bases. I Am
Stocked now and i have decide to live the country. My Doctor told me
that i have serious sickness which is cancer of breast problem .The
one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness Having known my
condition I decided to donate this fund for charity work. I will
donating 60% to the poor and the disadvantaged and the orphans and 25%
i will use it for my medical treatment and 15% will be for your
assistant. I also want you to know that this matter is %100 RISK FREE
because I have all the deposit documents with me .all I needs is your
seriousness to handle this matter with all your mind. So please i am
waiting for your urgent reply so that i will give you all the
information about this money . Your information is requested. (1)
Your Full name................... (2) Your Full
address................ (3) Your telephone/Fax
Numbers....... Dearest
in Christ, Remain Blessed always Mrs M. Elena Fernandez
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