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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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- mrsgracelee2@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Grace Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsgracelee2@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2016 17:35:46 -0400
Subject: God Bless You I Wait For Your Urgent Reply
Dearest Good Friend,
I know you don't know me, and and this message might come to you as a surprise but I got your address from my search for a reliable and trusted partner here through divine God direction and i have decided to make you my friend by the grace of God because we bear the same believe which is divine to be of the same believes.Based on this,
i decided not looking for pity, but I am looking for help with the fear of God .I recently I was diagnosed with cancer and the doctors don't give me that much time to live again but with God all things are Possible because Doctors Treat God is the healer and i always read the Book of Job 14V7 .
I would like to distribute the funds with 31kg of Gold, In a Bank here in GHANA that my later husband deposited with a trusted bank here to charity organizations and for the work of God and also to invest part of the fund in your country through you that I can trust for the better future of my only Son.I propose 20% to you for your assistance.If you would be interested in such an opportunity, please respond and I can send you further details my private email is mrsgracelee2@gmail.com
Sister Grace and Son
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Anti-fraud resources:
