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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:
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- katew3050@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Kate Williams <webbweb3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: katew3050@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2017 11:36:21 +0100
Subject: Dear Good Friend
I am Mrs Kate Williams. I have decided to donate what I have to
you/Churches/Motherless babies/Less privileged/Widows' because I am
dying and diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been
touched by God Almighty to donate from what I have inherited from my
late husband to you for good work of God. I have asked Almighty God to
forgive me and believe he has because he is a Merciful God I will be
going in for an operation soon.
I decided to will/donate the sum of $5.3 million Dollars to you for
the good work of God, and also to help the motherless and less
privilege and also forth assistance of the widows. At the moment I
cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my
relatives (that have squandered the funds given to them for this
purpose before) are around me and my health status is very bad. I have
adjusted my will and my lawyer is aware.
I wish you all the best and May the good Lord bless you abundantly,
and please use the funds judiciously and always extend the good work
to others. As soon you get back to me, I shall give you detailed
information on what I need from you, then you will contact the bank
and tell them I have willed those properties to you by quoting my
personal file routing and account information. And I have also
notified the bank that I am willing that properties to you for a good,
effective and prudent work. I don't know you but I have been directed
to do this by God Almighty.
If you are interested in carrying out this task please contact in my
private email at ( katew3050@gmail.com ) for more details on this
noble project of mine.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Kate Williams.
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