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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.
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rose William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <msrosewilliam@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:06:31 +0100
Subject: Re: Re: Payment Transfer Notice.
Greetings My Dear,
I am indeed glad to be in contact with you even though this medium of communication (internet) has been grossly abused by criminal minded people making it difficult for people with genuine intention struggle to correspond and exchange views without skepticism.
I am Mrs. Rose William, an American widow to late Thomas William we are married for 32year without a child. I am 65 years old, suffering from Lungs cancer. My condition is very bad it is obvious I won't live more than one month according to my doctors. I want an honest person whom I can entrust this project to assist me in fulfilling my promise before or after my death since I am on sick bed now here in the United Kingdom.
I have $4.8 Million USD which I deposited in a private security company in Republic of Benin and I am willing to donate this fund to any sincere person for the following purposes as follow;
1: To set up a cancer Hospital Foundation to assist victims of Cancer.
2: For the sick, less-privileged and destitute children.
3: For the Widows and orphans.
These are the wishes of a dying widow like me. As the only survival of Williams family this are the desires of my heart.I want you to Stand-in for this inheritance fund for the building of the Cancer Hospital Foundation in your country. If you indicate your interest in this NOBLE CAUSE I will be waiting for your email and telephone urgently. All documents related to this fund are with me in safe. 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: