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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: andjelazemun <andjelazemun@ptt.rs>
Reply-To: christianadavidson12@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:24:49 -0700
Subject: Hello Dearest One
Hello Dearest One,
How are you and members of your family doing? I am Mrs. Christiana Davidso an
aging widow suffering from long time illness pancreatic cancer)I was
married to Mr.Robert Wilson from Toronto Canada who worked with Canadian
Embassy here in Republic De Cote Ivoire for nine years before he died in
the year 2011. I have some funds I inherited from my late husband's
account. Before his death we were both happy born again Christian. Since
his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial
home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of $6 Million in a bank and recently,my DOCTOR told me
that I would not last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Orphanage or
good Christian that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct here in.
I want a Church organization or good person that will use this fund for
orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the
house of God is maintained. I took this decision because I don't have any
child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not good
Christians not even good at all because they are the one that killed my
husband in other to have all my late husband properties and I don't want
my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation
where this money will be used in an ungodly way.Having known my condition
I decided to donate I and my late husband's fund to an individual or
charity organization that has a good heart and can sincerely use the fund
for the up keeping of the less privileged. Please if you would be able to
use these funds for the Lord's work kindly reply me as soon as possible
for more detail.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein and
ensure no one else knows about this fund. Also remember that am giving you
all this based on trust and again I will want you to stick to your words.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mrs Christiana Davidso
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