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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mrsagatafrank@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Agata Frank" <trainee2010@diedromg.com.br>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Agata Frank" <mrsagatafrank@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:28:52 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Dear Beloved One
Beloved,
I am drenched with tears while writing this short message to you. It was
heartbreaking news to me few days ago when my doctor notified me on
complications on my health condition which he officially made known to me.
He further stressed that the complication I had in my human mechanism as a
result of a secondary liver cancer which have destroyed all the organs in
my body system. According to him, he said that this complication will lead
to my imminent death since no medication can alleviate the high system of
deformation I am encountering at this time in my system.
In the view of the above, I am in quest to find a trustworthy and upright
individual whom I will entrust the sum of $3.2 million USD and this has
led me to you. The said fund was acquired by me as an inheritance from my
adopted father who died as a result of political crisis which erupted
among his most political associate and business clique.
I will make available to you all information and officially authorize
document which will endorse your claim as the beneficiary to the fund in
question in the finance house where the fund was lodged by my adopted
father. I have mapped out the modalities on how the fund will be
apportioned. 35% of the principal amount of the money will be dished out
to you while 65% will be allotted to any charitable or orphanage home of
your preference.
My motive to dispense the funds to a charity and orphanage home is that I
grew up as an orphan and do not have any heirs hitherto.
Upon your acceptance to this proposal kindly get back to me through
this email: mrsagatafrank@hotmail.com
Best Regards
Mrs. Agata Frank
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