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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:
- 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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: grace lem <joycemae3@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:59:45 +0000
Subject: COMPLEMENT OF THE SESSION WITH YOUR FAMILY.
FROM MRS GRACE LEM AND DAUGHTER
ABIDJAN-COTE D' IVOIRE.
DEAREST,
THIS MAIL MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AND THE TEMPTATION TO IGNORE IT AS SERIOUS COULD COME INTO YOUR MIND BUT PLEASE CONSIDER IT WITH A DIVINE WISH AND ACCEPT IT WITH A DEEP SENSE OF HUMILITY.
PERHAPS THIS WOULD GO DOWN AS THE MOST DIFFICULT LETTER I WILL EVER ATTEMPT TO RIGHT IN MY LIFE.I AM NOT SURE THAT IT WILL ADEQUATELY CONVEYS THE REMORSE I FEEL AT THIS MOMENT HOW DO I BEGIN MY STORY? HOW DO I TELL THIS STORY WITHOUT SHEDDING TEARS, TEARS OF SORROW OH GOD I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AIR MY VIEW AND TO SHARE THIS STORY WITH SOME ONE. I AM MRS GRACE LEM AND SON FROM COTE D' IVOIRE. I WAS MARRIED TO MY LATE HUSBAND WHO WAS A CONTRACTOR WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF COTE D' IVOIRE BEFORE HE DIED IN THE YEAR 2015 AFTER FEW DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. THE DOCTOR SAID HIS DEATH WAS AS A RESULT OF POISON.
WE WERE MARRIED FOR SO MANY YEARS WITH ONE GIRL OF 17 YEARS RESPECTIVELY . WHEN MY LATE HUSBAND WAS ALIVE HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF F( $3.000,000.00 USD) THREE MILLION DOLLARS WITH ONE BANK HERE.PRESENTLY THIS MONEY IS STILL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE BANK HERE. RECENTLY, MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT MY HEALTH CONDITION IS VERY BAD DUE TO CANCER PROBLEM. HAVING KNOWN MY CONDITION I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU SO THAT YOU WILL HELP ME TO TRANSFER THIS FUND INTO YOUR PRIVATE ACCOUNT FOR YOU TO HELP ME INVEST IT FOR MY DAUGHTER FUTURE/EDUCATION AND ALSO HELP MY DAUGHTER TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO START A NEW LIFE. THE BROTHERS OF MY LATE HUSBAND HAS RAISED AGAINST I AND MY DAUGHTER SINCE THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND AND THEY HAVE SIZED ALL MY LATE HUSBAND PROPERTIES BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS DEPOSIT WHICH MY HUSBAND MADE WITH A BANK HERE WHICH I WILL SOON SEND YOU THEIR CONTACT.
YOU SHOULD PROMISE ME T HAT YOU WILL HELP MY DAUGHTER TO INVEST THIS FUND IN YOUR COUNTRY AND ALSO HELP HER TO FURTHER HER EDUCATION IN YOUR COUNTRY.PLEASE ASSURE ME THAT YOU WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY AS I STATED HEREIN. SEND ME THESE INFORMATION SO I CAN SUBMIT IT TO BANK AND ALSO INTRODUCE YOU AS OUR FAMILY FRIEND WHO WILL RECEIVE THE FUND .
1. FULL NAME:
2. ADDRESS:
3. SEX;
4. AGE:
5. OCCUPATION:
6. PHONE:/MOBILE:
7. STATE OF ORIGIN :COUNTRY:
WAITING TO RECEIVE YOUR REPLY IMMEDIATELY.
THANKS AND REMAIN BLESSED.
SINCERELY .
FROM MRS GRACE LEM AND DAUGHTER
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