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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "ritadagnon@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rita Dagnon Vignikin." <official.note2@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Rita Dagnon Vignikin." <ritadagnon@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:53:23 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Good Day Beloved in Christ.
Good Day Beloved in Christ.
I am Mrs Rita Dagnon Vignikin, suffering from cancerous ailment without a child. I am married to Ing. Peter Dagnon Vignikin that is late. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of Nine Milion Five Hundred Thuosand Dollars, derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market with his bank here in Cotonou Benin Republic. Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from.
Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family and me I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the Upkeep of widows, or phans financially.Due to my ill health, i cannot go further than this. You can contact me through my alternative email  (ritadagnon@yandex.com )
Thanks and remain blessed.
Mrs. Rita Dagnon Vignikin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
