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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mme. Michelle Damila" <ak257237896@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: michelle.damila@t-online.de
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 23:34:36 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re: May the peace of God rein in you.
>From Mrs. Michelle Damila.
Ilot 47A rue de Jubilé
Williamsville
Abidjan.
Cote d’Ivoire.
Donation for humanitarian
and charity services.
I am Mrs. Michelle
Damila, widow of late Dr. Beneson Damila I am presently very sick and suffering
from the Stroke that happened to me shortly after the death of my husband.
I have contacted you
because there is the sum of €2,800,000.00 (Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand
Euros) deposited in a bank here by my late husband and i have chosen to donate
this money for humanitarian and charity services.
Or even for the
preservation of arts and assistance to Museums because my late husband was a
great lover of arts.
Our marriage didn’t
produce any child which is why I have decided to donate this money in service
top God and humanity.
I want you to understand
that you are not under any pressure to accept this responsibility if your heart
is not in it.
And once you receive this
money, please use to assist the needy and give relief where it is most needed.
This decision is between
me and my God because if eventually i don’t make it out of this sickness, i
will at least be happy that i have helped a few of God’s children to the glory
of his holy name.
I don’t want any
telephone calls or discussion because of the presence of some people around me
who can do anything to stop me.
I wait for your urgent
reply,
Mrs. Michelle Damila.
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Anti-fraud resources:
