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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)
- "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 orphan scam.
- 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.
- nivl55545@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Maryanna Jonatan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nivl55545@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2017 12:32:42 -0800
Subject: Hello Good Day
Hello,
This message might come to you as a surprise since we do not know each other and I'm writing you with heart full of tears and sorrow and hope you will understand and give attention to my cry for help. My name is Maryanna Jonatan and am 16 years old girl, am the only child of my late parents Mr and Mrs Anthony Jonatan My father was a highly reputable business man(A COCOA DEALER) who operated in west African and Europe during his days.It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously two days after he return from a business trip to France on 14th August 2016.Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who traveled with him at that time because my father was poison on that trip as confirmed by DNA test, But God knows the truth! he came back sick and died 2 days later but My mother died when I was just 9 years old, and since then my father took me so special.
Before his death on 14th August 2016 my father told me of the Share Capital Investment he bought under my name with a company in UK. he told me that the share is worth US$18.500.000 MILLION DOLLARS ONLY, is the total worth of the share. He further told me that the share is as value as cash and can easily be sold whenever i wish to and then he told me the name of the company and of person to contact and also gave me the share verification code number to present to the company whenever i wish to verifier or decides to sale the shares. I am just a 16 years old girl yet to enter university and really do not have any business idea and so will not risk this my last hope. Meanwhile, my wicked uncle has been maltreating me and have claimed all my father's properties and the worst of it was that I got sick and was admitted at the hospital for 5 days and after many test luckily the doctor told me that i was poisoned and that i was lucky to survived and then he advised me to be very careful of where to eat or dri
The reason why am contacting you is to help me transact with the company to sell the share and receive the money and then help me relocate to your country to further my education for a better future which has always been my father wish and i totally will not have future here. my life is in danger please help me before i get killed by the same person that killed my father. I will appreciate an urgent response indicating your ability and willingness to assist me as urgent demand because am scared and have left the house and presently in a refugee camp which is the only place i believe to hide for safety. PLEASE SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS MY PERSONAL EMAIL ID:nivl55545@gmail.com
Miss Maryanna Jonatan
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