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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- mrsjanetobeid2000@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: vdo@vajira.ac.th
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 04:55:36 +0700
Subject: RE: I COME TO YOU WITH FAITH !!!!
Dear Sir/Madam;
Greetings to you, I know my message will come to you as a surprise but
I want you to know that am contacting you for a good purpose. I am
Mrs. Janet Obeid; my spirit led me to write you this email. I write
you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart because
my Doctor informed me that I will die in 3 weeks time due to my
Complicated health issues (CANCER). Based on this, I want to will my
money 10.5 million USD to a faithful and God fearing person who will
use it as I will instruct hence I am contacting you. I want you to use
the funds to raise a business in any area you have experience and
expertise and to disburse 50% of the annual net profit on charity
causes, 35% for expansion (or diversification) while 15% will be kept
by you as compensation for your labour. The disbursements should be
made to charities such as orphanages, motherless babies homes and to
humanitarian causes.
I look forward to your reply and co-operation by sending me the
information below.
Reply me on mrsjanetobeid2000@hotmail.com
Full Name
Address
Phone Number
Country
Warm wishes from,
Mrs Janet Obeid
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This message was sent using Vajira Hospital Webmail.
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Anti-fraud resources:
