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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rose William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msrosewilliam@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:28:20 +0100
Subject: Re: Re: Cheque Payment
Greetings my Dear,
I am Mrs. Rose William, a widow to late Thomas William. I am 72 years old, suffering from Lungs cancer. My condition is very bad it is obvious I won't live more than two months according to my doctors. I want an honest person whom I can entrust my fund to assist me in fulfilling my promise before or after my death for am on sick bed now and could not handle it myself.
I am willing to donate the sum of $4.8 Million USD for you to help the widows and orphans and to carry out other charity works as I have made a promise to the lord last year. I wait your urgent reply to let us proceed. When I see your positive reply, I shall explain to you why I have appointed you for this and not my servant girl. Thank you as I wait your reply no matter what your position may be. God be with you as you render this service to God and humanity.
Pray for me if you love humanity.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Rose William
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Anti-fraud resources:
