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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "remain blessed" (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.
- janewewilliams1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Williams" <oupam@partserve.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: janewewilliams1@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2016 13:54:29 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: My Dearest in the Lord
Hello my beloved in the Lord.
First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to reach you for a
transaction of this magnitude. I am Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams I am 65
years old base in South Africa.I write to Relate to you of my intention
to use my money 20.5 million dollars for charity work in your country.
I was married to Late McCauley Scott Williams who was a contractor with
the Government of South Africa before he died for plane crashed in 2000
in Kenya airways.I have been suffering from cancer I want to know if I can
trust you to use These funds for charity/orphanage and 20% will be for you
as compensation. Please contact me, so that I will give you more
details,All so my dear husband was involved with the January 2000 Kenya
airways plane crashed as you can see on the news line web site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ africa/6627485.stm.
I choose you after viewing your profile and i have confident in you
because i have prayed. I am willing to donate the sum of $20.5m
U.S.Dollars, to the less privileged. May the grace of our lord the love of
God and the fellowship of God be with you and your family?
I await urgent reply.
Please update me of your communication with the banker as soon as
possible. I count on you; please keep praying for me as I will be praying
for you too and Also let the congregation of the your church you worship
also pray for me.
Remain blessed,Thanks,
Get back to me on (janewewilliams1@gmail.com)
Mrs. Wendy Jane Williams.
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