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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million us 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Sister Josie Wilson <mrsjwilson2012450@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "mrsjosiewilson2008@gmail.com" <mrsjosiewilson2008@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:12:42 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Greetings From Sister Josie Wilson,
My Dear greetings to you and your family,
I am Sister Josie Wilson from Bahrain. I am married to Dr. Nanu Wilson who
worked with Bahrain embassy in Cote d’Ivoire for nine years also doing his
cocoa company business here in Cote D’Ivoire before he died in the year
2014 by this country political group who kidnapped him and killed him for
nothing. We were married for eleven years without a child.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (4.Million U.S.
Dollars) in a fixed suspense deposit account with one of the Bank here in
Cote d’Ivoire. Presently this money is still with the Bank so i want you to
take quick step to this transfer process with the bank to transfer the
money to you because, recently, my Doctor told me that i would not last for
the next three months due to pancreatic cancer problem. Through what
disturbs me most is my stroke i having known my condition i decided to
donate out this fund to a sincere person that will utilize this money the
way i am going to instruct here-in.
My dear like i said i am suffering a pancreatic cancer sickness my
condition is really bad and it is quite obvious that i won’t live more than
three months according to my doctor and i have no Child who is going to
take care of this huge amount of money i am willing to donate the Sum of
$4,Million US dollars for you to help Widows, Orphanages Home and the Less
Privileged ones in the rural and urban areas and to carry out Charity works
in your Country and around the World on my behalf i need your urgent
respond.
Hoping to hearing from you
Remain blessed.
Your Sick Sister.
Mrs. Josie Wilson.

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