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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 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Sister Joy Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sisjoyjohnson@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2015 21:34:22 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS IN JESUS NAME!!!
GREETINGS IN JESUS NAME!!!
My name is Sister Joy Johnson from United States, I'm a widow suffering from Breast Cancer and Stroke, which denied me a child as a result i may not last till the next two months according to my doctor report. I'm married to late Pastor Bailey James, and we were married for many years without any issue child before his death. I'm 68 years old woman. I have some funds i inherited from my late husband the sum of (5.8 million dollars) which i needed a very honest and God fearing person who will claim the funds from the bank and use the funds for work of God Affair donation in the house of God, like propagating the good news of God and to endeavor God worshiping place and help less-privileged. I found your profile and i decided to contact you for the donation work of God Affair.
According to my doctor report i don't need any telephone communication in this regards because of my health, please if you would be able to use the funds for the work of God Affair as i stated contact me back so i will lead you to Ally Bank Limited International in Washington DC where this funds was deposited by my late husband Pastor Bailey James , for you to retrieve the funds in your name as the next of kin for work of God Affair thanks.
I will stop here until i hear from you soonest.
Always pray for my health.
May God bless you In Jesus name Amen!!!
Sister Joy Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
