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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- mrs.stacy90@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Stacy Russell" <info@mail.com>
Reply-To: mrs.stacy90@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:51:05 +0200
Subject: Honest Interest Please!!!
My Dear Friend,
I am Mrs. Stacy Russell from Dublin Ireland and my lawyer is Berilli
jones.I am married to Lloyd Russell who worked with Texaco Oil Company
in Malaysia before he died in a ghastly motor accident on his way to a
Board meeting.
My Husband and i were married but without any children. Since his
death I decided not to re-marry and presently I am 76 Years old.When
my late husband was Alive he deposited the sum of $4.2 million dollars
with a Bank in the UNITED KINGDOM.
Presently this money is still with the Bank and the management has
been sending me mails as the beneficiary to come forward to receive
the money or rather Issue a letter of authority to somebody to receive
it on my behalf.
I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment on
Cancer of the lungs. I have lost my ability to talk and my doctors
have told me that I have only a few months to live so I think the best
thing to do is to use the money for charity purposes.
I want a person who is trustworthy that I will make the beneficiary of
my late Husband's Fund deposited with the bank so that the person can
get the money and utilize 95% to fund churches, orphanages and widows
around the world.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall tell you what to do next and
how to get in contact with the Bank. Please assure me that you will
act accordingly as I stated here and Keep this contact confidential
till such a time this funds get to your Custody. This is to ensure
that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth.
Please contact my emails below if interested.
I await your urgent reply.
Regards,
Mrs.Stacy Russell.
EMAIL: mrs.stacy92@live.com
mrs.stacy90@gmail.com
Barr.Berilli Jones,
Dr.Lloyd Russell's Lawyer.
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