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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 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.
- davidanthony1law@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Fr. John Smith" <sr.johnsm1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Rev. Fr. John Smith" <fr.johnsm4@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2015 12:09:47 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: From Rev. Fr. John Smith
Hello,
Please take your time to read this message. I know also that you will be amazed at the level of trust that I am willing to place in a person that I have never seen nor spoken with. My name is Rev. Fr. John Smith. I have been a catholic priest for over 25 years. I had a heart surgery on the 13-04-2014 and the Doctors have just informed me that I have a short time to live on earth. I had a serious bleeding after the operation.
I have decided to give to you the total sum of $2.970.000.00 (Two million Nine Hundred and seventy Thousand US DOLLARS) which was deposited in my bank account by a dying elderly woman in my congregation who happens to be from your country. I want you to use this amount to make the world a better place for the poor and less privileged and the needy. I took this decision because I was raised in an Orphanage so I do not have relatives and presently, I am hospitalized at a Benin Republic hospital, where I am undergoing treatment.
This is why I have decided to contact you so that you can make good use of the money which I have willed to you. Now, the people around me are only waiting for me to die so that they can use this money for their selfish interests. I hate evil minded people and that is why I want you to now contact my Lawyer with the information below:
Contact name : David Anthony
Email address: davidanthony1law@yahoo.com
He will direct you on what to do in order to receive funds immediately. I have passed on my instructions to him so feel free to contact him. Please make sure you contact my Lawyer, he is the only one that can respond to you in due time. I wish you the very best in life. Always pray for my soul to rest in perfect peace. I would be a very happy man even in death if you use these funds for Good work to help humanity. I am 77 years old now and have been good to everyone around. Please assure me that you would help me carry on the good work.
God bless you
Rev. Fr. John Smith.
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