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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:
- "gvgaetano@yeah.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Gladys Vettese" <gvgaetano@meta.ua>
Reply-To: gvgaetano@yeah.net
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:35:14 -0500
Subject: Please accept my most sincere feelings
Hello,
I hope everything is going well in your family. I am Mrs. Gladys Vettese a French nationality married to late Mr. Gaetano an Italian of blessed memory; he was a consultant engineer in Benin for duration of 9 years in the company of production and refinery of oil products. After 7 years of marriage, he died of an accident while working and since his death I suffer from diseases such as cancer and diabetes which has me flown for treatment in Europe among experts.
Despite all treatment efforts no positive changes on my health state because the tumor is in its terminal stage and most recently my doctor told me that I may not survive few months to come. Then I decided to return to Benin for the rest of my days. I am afraid I die leaving behind all my wealth acquired through the legacy of my late husband which is located currently in a bank here in Benin.
I have chosen to donate my wealth in the hope that you would spend fairly according to my instructions, for charitable means; taking care of the sick people; the elderly; centers of assistance to the orphans and to the homeless. I do not know what area activity you are working but I would like that you keep a part of my wealth for your own activities and honor my dying wish. If you agree, I ask you to answer me with all your contact so I put you in contact with my notary to make you my heir and universal beneficiary.
I took this decision because I did not have a child with my husband that can inherit from my wealth, and I don’t trust charitable organizations here. I suffer greatly and I'm very afraid to die without knowing the destination of my possessions, I am worried and I can't sleep day or night because I don't not want to die without having donated my wealth.
Wholeheartedly accept my most sincere feelings and may God bless you.
Gladys Vettese (gvgaetano@yeah.net)
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