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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.
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Joyce Robert <hotarusi@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mrs Joyce Robert <mrsjoyce.robert@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:57:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dearest in Christ,
Dearest in Christ,
I am
Mrs Joyce Robert from France I am married to Mr Albert Robert who worked
with France embassy in Cote d'ivoire for nine years before he died in
the year 2010. 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 Christians.Since his death I decided not to
re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is
against.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
2.8Million U.S. Dollars) with one Security Company in Cote
d'ivoire.Presently, this money is still with the Security
Company.Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next
three months due to cancer problem.Though what disturbs me most is my
stroke Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church
or better still a christian individual that will utilize this money the
way I am going to instruct here in.
I want a church that will
use this to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word of
God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made
us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this
decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and
my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's
hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers.
I don't want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the
reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I
know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bossom of the
Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall
hold my peace.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. With
God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply I
shall give you the contact of the Security Company in ivory coast.I will
also issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the
original- beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the church to always
pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I
lived alife of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord
must serve him in spirit and truth.Please always be prayerful all
through your life.and any delay in your reply will give me room in
searching for a church or christian individual for this same
purpose.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated
herein.
Hoping to hearing from you
Yours in Christ.
Mrs Joyce Robert
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