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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:
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Clanzo Amaki" <hashihide2021@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Clanzo Amaki" <clanzoamaki@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:14:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Mrs. Clanzo Amaki
My name is Mrs. Clanzo Amaki. I am married to Dr Amah Amaki who worked with Malaysia embassy for nine years, Before he died in 2013.
We were married for eleven years
without a child. He died after a brief
illness that lasted for four days. Before his death we were both born again christains. Since his death i decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible spoke against. When my husband was alife he deposited the
sum of $3.2million US dollars [three million two hundred million US dollars] in a Company security.He also said that the security company does not know the content of the safe Box.He decleared it as family
treasure and used my name to Deposit the cosingnment as his wife and next of kin.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or still an
individual that will use this in orphanages and widows and also propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. I took this decision because I don`t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives are not good and I don`t want my husband hard earned money to be misused by this people. I don`t want a situation where these money will be used in an ungodly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.
As soon as I recieve your reply I shall give you the contact of the Company. I will also send to you all the deposit document and a letter of authority that will enpower you as the original- Beneficiary of this consignment. I want you to always pray for me.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Mrs. Clanzo Amaki
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Anti-fraud resources:
